Does copper kill fungus or Bacteria? What is the effect of epoxy lining on Bacteria?

-Don

Don, copper won’t kill bacteria or fungus –in fact, in both copper and galvanized steel pipes, bacteria and other microscopic organisms grow in encrustation on the corroded pipe wall or on the corroded areas themselves. Epoxy pipe lining prevents corrosion and encrustation by creating a barrier between the pipe and water. The bacteria and other organisms will no longer be present to cause bad tasting or smelling water.

-Dr. Dave

I’ve heard that more and more people are sealing copper pipes from homes? Is this really a serious problem? Someone I know painted their copper pipes white to look like plastic. Is that a good solution?

–Chris

Chris, theft of copper in general, not just copper pipe, is a huge problem not only here in the U.S., but around the world. Thieves are tearing out copper pipes and copper wiring from just about any source they can get their hands on, including homes or buildings under construction (any construction site in general is a target), abandoned/condemned homes and buildings (foreclosure lists are commonly used), phone lines, and street lights.

Both the Chinese and Indian economies are growing rapidly and have created a huge demand for copper (and other non-ferrous metals) over the past several years. If you add that to the dropping value of the dollar, it’s easy to see why the price of copper has shot up from about 80 cents per pound to more than $3.50 per pound (within the last 10 years).

Just listen to this May 20, 2008 story by Marketplace®’s Jeff Tyler about how copper theft is hitting U.S. cities’ infrastructure hard:

And have a look at some incidents of copper theft from around the world, just from last month!

7/29/08: Police bust alleged copper wire theft gang (Dandan, Saipan)

7/28/08: Store under construction targeted in copper pipe theft (Portsmouth, NH)

7/27/08: ‘Syndicates behind copper pipe theft’ (Cape Town, South Africa)

7/24/08: Copper theft a rapidly growing crime (Las Vegas, NV)

7/17/08: Man’s day in the cells for copper-theft attempt (Halifax, United Kingdom)

7/16/08: Man killed in Ohio during copper theft (New Miami, OH)

7/10/08: Copper Theft: “Inside Job” (Pensacola, FL)

7/09/08: Youth granted bail on copper wire theft charge (Georgetown, Guyana)

7/08/08: July brings no freedom from wire theft (Spanaway, WA)

7/01/08: Police following leads in copper pipe, cash theft (Warren, VT)

Photo: Air conditioning unit destroyed by copper thieves. Click here to read the full story. Used with permission. ©2008, Thompson Realty.

Painting your copper pipes won’t necessarily prevent them from being stolen, but to a thief in a hurry, they just might appear to be undesirable plastic. Another thing you can do is replace basement windows with glass block windows –these let the light in while obscuring thieves view and are much more difficult to break (when properly installed) than ordinary windows. Air conditioners (more so central units than window ones) are a common target too, it’s best to secure them or hide from view –your local installer may have some useful ideas.

–Brian

Can you use PVC pipe for the hot water as well the cold in a house? If so, what exactly should I be looking for as far as the hot water goes?

–Charles

Charles, PVC is used for water service lines to homes and buildings and comes in sizes larger than CPVC pipe which is more often used for internal plumbing. CPVC is an option for use with hot and cold water, but I’m not a fan of plastic pipes for domestic water as there are some potential issues if not installed properly, such as pipe expansion, gluing of the fittings and being near electrical wires. Whether you’re installing pipes in a new home or replacing your existing pipes, I would recommend either copper (which is more expensive) or PEX.

PEX is one of the most versatile, easy-to-use plumbing systems on the market today:

• You can use it with hot or cold water.

• There are adapters that let you connect it to existing galvanized, copper, and other pipes.

• Most plumbing leaks and system failures occur at joints in fittings. But since PEX can bend around most corners without a coupling or fitting, it requires fewer fittings which means opportunity to leak and installs faster.

• PEX flexibility also allows it to expand and contract more than other types of pipe. Increased capacity for expansion makes PEX more burst resistant.

• Complete, easy to use repair kits are available for all PEX systems.

• Much like a circuit breaker for your plumbing system, PEX systems have a shut-off valve at each supply line. Having a shut off at each line allows the repair person to leave the rest of the system operational while working on one line.

Here’s a link to a great short video, Working with PEX Piping with Plumbing and Heating Expert Richard Trethewey, This Old House television.

-Brian

We have radiant heat (all copper tubing) in our floor. We have a leak in the system. Can your product be used to repair it? Also would your product affect the transmission of heat in the floor.

-Ryan

Ryan, epoxy lining technology is great for protecting a new system and can assist with repairing an older system with one or more small diameter leaks less than 1/8” in size. It’s not the cure all for all pipe leaks: the pipe must be metal; it must be structurally sound; and the leak must be from a pinhole, and not a crack, split or some other catastrophic failure. If the leak is too large, a repair must be made prior to the lining procedure. A certified CuraFlo professional can work with your system’s installer to determine the best way to make the repair(s).

Once in the pipes, the epoxy lining does provide some insulating properties (i.e. it will slow down the heat transfer), but this is not significant enough to interfere with the performance of your radiant heating system. The circulating hot water temperature of in-floor radiant heating systems are typically between 120° to 125° Fahrenheit (48.9° – 51.7° Celsius). Most epoxies are effective at these temperatures, and will allow your system to perform as designed.

-Brian