Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘PIPES’

Galvanized Steel, Copper, PEX, and CPVC: Pipe Materials and Repiping

Monday, January 20th, 2014

In the long history of plumbing, many different types of pipe material have been used to channel water and sewage. (The very earliest “piping” was actually grooved wood.) Depending on the age of your home, you might have metal pipes from steel or copper, or perhaps specialized plastic—and chances are high you may not know exactly which type you have, and whether it needs replacement.

To help you understand the plumbing in your home and if it’s time for repiping, we’ll go over four common types of pipe material. If you want more help with your plumbing in Apopka, FL, call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. We offer pipe replacement and whole-house repiping services and will find the right material for your home.

Galvanized steel

This is the old standby of the plumbing world… and it’s also outdated. Galvanized steel was used in home plumbing for many decades because of its strength. However, steel suffers from the problems of inflexibility, making it susceptible to breaking when up against too much force, and eventual corrosion, which leads to leaks and contamination of the water supply. If your house is old enough to have galvanized steel pipes, you should give serious consideration to a whole-house repiping. It’s possible that your plumbing no longer lives up to local codes with steel pipes.

Copper

Copper took over from steel and became immensely popular in homes. Copper isn’t as strong a material as steel, but it has many advantages that make up for it. It’s lightweight and flexible, and it resists corrosion, making it longer-lived in general than steel.

PEX

Plastic piping is now very popular, and one of the most common types is cross-linked polyethylene, or PEX. It has become the principle alternative to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is a top choice to replace copper pipes that carry drinking water. PEX costs less than copper, does not corrode or develop pinhole leaks, and has an expected lifetime of 50 years.

CPVC

Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is frequently used as piping for hot and cold water. The advantages it has over standard PVC piping is an increased resistance to heat.

Consult with a professional plumber about your options and their specific benefits. At Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc., we offer full service replacement and repiping for your plumbing in Apopka, FL. We’ll help you choose the most cost-effective plumbing for your home.

Tags: Apopka, PIPES, Repiping
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The Lead Free Mandate and How it Affects You

Thursday, December 12th, 2013

The New Year is a time of fresh beginnings and resolutions. And this year, 2014 will bring a significant change in the laws that affect your fresh drinking water. We at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. would like to share with you what the lead free mandate covers and what it will mean for you.

The Lead Free Mandate

On January 4, 2014, the Federal Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, originally signed on January 11, 2011, will go into effect. Also known as the “lead-free mandate,” it marks a major change in the definition of lead free in plumbing that is far stricter than current Federal requirements. A number of states—specifically California and Vermont—have already enacted tighter regulations on lead content in plumbing, and this is what originally prompted drafting a new law on the Federal level.

What exactly does the law entail?

The Federal Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act amends Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1986, which limited the use of lead pipes, plumbing fittings or fixtures, solder and flux that did not fit the definition of lead free. The current definition of lead free by the SDWA (1996 amended) is “not more than a weighted average of 8.0% lead.” The new law alters this so that lead free is now defined as “not more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures.” A product that meets this requirement can be called “lead free”.

What kind of plumbing does this affect?

The term wetted parts refers to meters, expansion tanks, backflow preventers, flexible connectors, strainers, and assorted gauges, fittings, valves, etc. Essentially, any product used to convey water anticipated for human consumption, i.e. “potable water.” This doesn’t mean that all existing pipes need to be replaced, but that “any part used in the repair… must meet the new definition of lead free.” So any new parts used to make repairs to the plumbing that carries your drinking water after January 4 of next year must contain less than 0.25% lead.

Why is the reduction of lead beneficial?

The presence of lead in drinking water has potentially harmful effects. Lead has been linked to developmental delays in children and high blood pressure and kidney problems in adults. The EPA identifies brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures as the main source of lead entering into drinking water. Reducing the amount of lead allowed in plumbing from 8% to 0.25% marks a major improvement in reducing lead content.

Who enforces this law?

The EPA is responsible for implementation, but actual enforcement will rest on the state level, which in turn will pass it on to cities, towns, and municipalities, which use health and plumbing codes to drive enforcement. Contractors who fail to comply with the new law will face fines or lawsuits.

You can trust to Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. to implement this new law into all our work. The job we do on your plumbing will be compliant with the new mandate so that you will have the lowest amount of lead content in your pipes as possible, whether for your home or your business. For more information about our Orlando area plumbing services, call 407-327-6000 today!

More information available at:

http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/

Tags: Fixtures, lead free mandate, PIPES, Plumbing
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ABC National Craft Championships

Friday, March 30th, 2012

Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. would like to congratulate our talented employee Jeremiah Arredondo. Jeremiah won the local competition through the PIPE Apprenticeship program. As winner of the local competition he will be traveling with Anthony Bracco to compete in the National Craft Championship in San Antonio, Texas. The competition will be part of the 2012 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) EdCon & Expo that will be held April 24-27. The championships are a two day event featuring a written and practical portion where Jeremiah will be competing against the best apprentices in the country! We wish you the best of luck Jeremiah and are proud to have you representing not only Modern Plumbing Industries, but also the local PIPE Apprenticeship program!

The ABC National Craft Championships is an intense event with 12 competitions in 10 crafts, ” For many ABC members, the National Craft Championships is the highlight of the year. Craft trainees from chapter and member firm training programs across the country come together to compete in an intense two-day event that turns a convention center into an active construction site, in which craftworkers use their skills and knowledge to compete head-to-head with their peers to be recognized for their construction achievements”.

Modern Plumbing Industries proudly serves the greater Orlando metropolitan area with the same commitment to quality and service that helped us get our start. MPI is looking to the future with great aspirations and goals. We want to continue on the path for success, implement plans for measured growth and maintain our excellent reputation for providing quality work that is unmatched by competitors. These goals can only be achieved with employees who believe they can make good things happen then do it.

Tags: ABC, Careers, Championships, Employees, Modern Plumbing, PIPES, Plumbing
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