Galvanized pipes and Cold Water ... is corrosion inevitable?
Question:Hi,
I've just replaced our old hot-water galvanized pipes with copper pipes. The hot-water / galvanized piping led to really bad corrosion problems.
Now, I've left in the cold-water galvanized piping on the premise that the corrosion will not be as bad due to the cold water.
Is this a reasonable premise?
Any thoughts or related experiences would be appreciated.
Answers:
Galvanized pipes aren't galvanized on the inside. Water, hot or cold will rust the steel. The hot water causes rust through much quicker than cold however. There must be something that the heat does to hasten the rust thru. If you aren't having any evidence of weak pipe walls on the cold side you might wait. I've worked on old (built in the 30's) houses in Houston that the hot water pipes were replaced, but the cold water pipes were not. I took off a supply valve under a lavatory and found that the cold water pipes were over 1/2 full of sediment, but not corroding. Check at bottom elbows where the pipe runs vertical. They seem to rust out first where a pipe comes down and then right turns to horizontal. I suspect that gravity causes the rust and sediment to accumulate there when the water is not used for awhile. Good luck.
No you will still have corrosion I would replace the galvanized pipe with copper pipes
Water is water. Hot or cold, if it can eat threw a pipe it will. Don't wait for the leak. Replace it now.
its going to eat the cold too. joints and elbows usually go first. its called Electrolysis
they will still need to be replaced due to electrolysis. copper although more expensive will be better in the long run.
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