Water Piping

Water pipes have been around for a long time. The Romans used lead pipes; early Americans used wooden pipes. Nowadays, water pipes are made of a variety of materials that are much safer and more efficient at carrying water such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ductile iron, polyethylene, and copper. They carry treated, pressurized water as a part of the municipal water system.

Water pipes are subject to all kinds of dangers. Among the most common are pressure and freezing. Pressure can cause pipes to be noisy at times and even jolt and move due to extreme changes in pressure. Plumbers often refer this to as "water hammer" (for more info, see "Pressure").

Freeze-thaw cycles are a big problem during those winter months. Usually this only occurs with external water pipes or those that are underground but they can create a mess. When it gets cold outside, copper pipes contract and then expand again with the morning sun. This causes strain on the pipes and will cause breakage.


A Rainforest technician stands over insulated water pipes.

These problems can, however, be avoided. For example, foam insulation is available to cover underground pipes and protect them from freeze-thaw cycles. Rainforest Plumbing & Air technicians can perform a diagnostics check on your water pipes and preventative maintenance packages are available.

Give us a call today at (480) 615-7766 to schedule service!


Want to know more about water pipes?
�Water main
�Water piping repairs

Other plumbing topics you may be interested in:
Tankless Heater | Grease Traps | Ball Valves | Pipe Locating