Why do gray pipes leak?
The truth is that all piping can and will leak eventually. However if you have gray piping in your home, get ready for a problem.The piping put in to homes in the boom times of the 70's and 80's is now responsible for the majority of pipe leak service calls in Florida.
I believe the problem is two fold.
- The chemical problem with the pipe reacting to continued chlorine and other natural occurring chemicals against the walls of the tubing and the leaching out of the OIL in the piping making the pipes brittle.
- Plastic fittings- The piping was designed to expand without bursting, then return to its original shape. A problem I see is that the piping would always return to its shape if bent as well. During the installation, plumbers would often bend the pipes to avoid fittings and there would be a residual stress remaining. This pent-up pressure would remain there and the plastic fittings would break after years of this stress. Even today when the piping breaks, the bent pipes will try to go straight.
Unfortunately, there is not much you can do besides replacing the pipes in the home. Usually with PEX piping being the best affordable option.
Call 386-738-9001