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#1
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This townhome has a central water boiler providing hot water and radiant heat to all the units. It appears as the main water line(s) are galvanized steel. All the water lines in the unit are copper and a little pex. I am going to write up the gal steel. What is your opinions? Thanks
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#2
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What would you write? Does your jurisdiction prohibit the use of galvanized steel for supply lines?
IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ℠ Jeff PopeJPI Home Inspection Service Santa Clarita CA (661) 212-0738 Santa Clarita Home Inspection http://www.MyInspector.net |
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#3
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I'm with Jeff...
What's the problem with gal steel? |
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#4
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gal steel rusts from the inside out and has higher probability of water leakage and poor water quality in potable water piping. In my area it is typically uninsurable.
I havent really seen it as a primary supply line and copper through-out the unit/building. You guys dont call out gal steel supply piping? Thanks |
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#5
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Virtually any pipe is going to have it's problems over time. Yea, in 40 years the supply might have to be replaced. But if it's copper it might have to be replaced too. So to answer your question in a word... No.
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#6
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____________________________________________ "An Education, not just an Inspection" Larry Kage Lake Ann (Traverse City), Michigan 49650 231 929 3525 Professional Inspector and Infrared Thermographer serving the Traverse City, Michigan area and beyond. ITC/FLIR CERTIFIED BUILDING SCIENCES THERMOGRAPHER ITC/FLIR CERTIFIED LEVEL 1 THERMOGRAPHER
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#7
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In my particular jurisdiction, galvanized steel pipes are no longer approved for re-pipes or original construction, however, California's building code still allows it.
If there are no current issues with the piping, there's no reason to "write it up" unless it's prohibited by the AHJ. Having said that, all the galvanized piping I have ever seen has been close to, or in need of replacement. I have not seen galv in newer construction. IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ℠ Jeff PopeJPI Home Inspection Service Santa Clarita CA (661) 212-0738 Santa Clarita Home Inspection http://www.MyInspector.net |
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#8
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I've look at that picture for a while now and maybe I'm wrong, but isn't that black pipe and cast iron fittings. If I'm right neither are approved for supply piping anywhere in the country (I could be wrong, but not sure cast iron fittings were ever approved for supply.
Someone with better eyes set me straight. In the world view we are all important and our mere existence effects all life. Jack Gilleland Home Inspection Services Clayton Commercial, Multifamily, and Residential jgilleland1@att.net Ohio_Commercial and_Home_Inspections activerain |
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#9
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Please Note:
relliott is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Not sure where it came from, but I hope this is useful as I often refer to this .
Galvanized pipe was commonly used for water supply lines many years ago, but over time many have filled with scale, which is why some older homes suffer from low water pressure. Hard water greatly reduces the life of steel pipe. |
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#10
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This is a common mistake. Pressure is not affected by pipe size or material. The static pressure is the same whether the inside diameter is 1/16 of an inch, or 3 inches, or 3 feet.
Quote:
The following, however, is true. Quote:
IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ℠ Jeff PopeJPI Home Inspection Service Santa Clarita CA (661) 212-0738 Santa Clarita Home Inspection http://www.MyInspector.net |
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#11
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Quote:
Owl Home Inspections Rick Maday Itasca, IL Home Inspector Serving all Chicago Suburbs Schaumburg Home Inspector Naperville Home Inspector Lake County Home Inspector
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#12
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Pressure (PSI) and flow (GPM) are two, completely separate items, and should be inspected as such.
IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ℠ Jeff PopeJPI Home Inspection Service Santa Clarita CA (661) 212-0738 Santa Clarita Home Inspection http://www.MyInspector.net |
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#13
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Jeff:
I agree with everything you've said. However, there were some dramatic failures of non-domestic galvanized pipes in our general area, Korean galvanized (I think), which were springing pin-holes leaks due to an inadequate annealing process. Also, if I remember correctly, some copper mains in Canyon Country were failing prematurely due to acidic soils and builders were substituting them for galvanized ones. This is not a recent phenomenom, and I wondered if you'd heard about it. The Korean galvanized were infamous for awhile, and would inform my clients about its history of leaks, and always deferred to a specialist. |
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#14
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Yes Kieth, I am aware of the sub-standard Korean piping that was used. My area (Santa Clarita) was one of the areas significantly affected by this particular piping.
There was a large class-action lawsuit filed against builders in our area for using this pipe, which was settled for $41 million, affecting more than 5,000 homes. Here is a snippet from one article published about the lawsuit. Quote:
Quote:
IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ℠ Jeff PopeJPI Home Inspection Service Santa Clarita CA (661) 212-0738 Santa Clarita Home Inspection http://www.MyInspector.net Last edited by jpope; 7/31/08 at 10:04 PM.. |
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#15
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Okay, I'll ask one more time, anyone else think that large black steel pipe is not Galvanized. It is actually black steel pipe. Oh and BTW there are no insulating unions in that picture.
In the world view we are all important and our mere existence effects all life. Jack Gilleland Home Inspection Services Clayton Commercial, Multifamily, and Residential jgilleland1@att.net Ohio_Commercial and_Home_Inspections activerain |
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