What is galvanized pipe?
It is steel pipe with a zinc coating, joined with threaded fittings. It was the standard water pipe in homes until about 1960. The zinc wears away over the decades and the steel underneath rusts.
How do I know if my house has galvanized pipe?
Look where the water line enters the house or at the pipes on the water heater. Galvanized pipe is dull gray, has threaded joints, and a magnet sticks to it. Copper is reddish brown and a magnet does not stick. If your home was built before about 1960 and has not been repiped, it very likely has some. Many homes have a mix, where repairs were made in copper over the years.
What problems does galvanized pipe cause?
- Low pressure. Rust builds up inside until the opening is a fraction of its size.
- Rusty or brown water, worst in the morning or after time away.
- Leaks at the threaded joints and through the pipe wall.
- Uneven flow, where one fixture is fine and the next is a trickle.
- Faster corrosion where copper was joined to it without the right fitting.
Can galvanized pipe be repaired or cleaned out?
A leaking section can be replaced, but the pipe on either side of it is in the same condition. The rust inside cannot be cleaned out. Replacement is the only lasting fix.
Do I have to replace all of it at once?
No. We can replace it in stages: the main line from the meter, the worst runs, or one bathroom at a time during a remodel. A full repipe in one job usually costs less in total and gives the best result, since pressure is only as good as the narrowest pipe left in the system. We price both ways.
What do you replace it with?
Copper or PEX. Copper is the traditional choice. PEX is flexible, needs fewer joints and can be run through a finished house with less opening up. We explain what each means for your home.
Galvanized pipe in Hayward
Much of Hayward was built between 1940 and 1960, the heart of the galvanized years. Burbank, Downtown, Southgate and the Tennyson area all have a lot of it. The same is true in San Lorenzo, San Leandro and Castro Valley. The water line from the meter is often galvanized too.
Who is Friendly Services?
A family-owned plumbing company with over 20 years in Hayward. License CSLB #1156315 (C-36 plumbing), $1M general liability cover and workers' comp. Our own work has a five-year workmanship warranty, and we have 100+ five-star reviews online.