How Heavy Rain Can Cause Plumbing Issues

Are April Showers Causing Plumbing Issues?

It’s true that April showers are talked about in passing, mostly. As the saying goes "April showers bring May flowers," sure, but for many homeowners, the heavy April rains can be a dreaded experience as they wait to see if their underground plumbing has been effected. Believe it or not, heavy rain can and does affect underground plumbing in a number of ways.

When the flowers are blooming and the plumbing is working fine, then it’s a good time to enjoy the warming weather. In the meantime, check out the following information to get an idea about the impact that spring rains can have on your plumbing.

Overly Saturated Soil Could Be a Problem

Soil can only absorb so much rain before it starts to cause problems with plumbing. During torrential downpours, or when it rains for several days in a row, the weight in the soil moisture can increase pressure on underground pipes.

If the soil hasn’t had a chance to dry out, or it is just overloaded with water, it can turn to heavy mud. Sometimes an underground pipe will develop a fissure under the extra pressure, and dirt will work its way into the pipe. This can cause backups and flooding in your basement or around the foundation of your house.

Is the Shifting Ground Causing Slab Leaks?

When there is a leak under the foundation of your home it is called a ‘slab leak.’ This is termed as such because they happen to the pipes underneath concrete slabs, and take more work to get to than ‘pinhole leaks’ such as those found behind a wall. Slab leaks can happen as a result of overly saturated soil, as mentioned above. They can also be caused by other factors such as old, eroded pipes, and foundation movement.

Heavy April rains don’t have to cause weight on your pipes directly to cause a leak. They can also help shift the soil and move the very foundation of your house. A slab leak of this kind occurs when the house foundation moves but the underground plumbing stays in place. As you can imagine, this can easily cause a leak, even if the house doesn’t move much, or you can’t tell that it has moved at all. Since most of the foundation is underground, chances are you won’t know if it has shifted until you start seeing cracks in the walls of your house.

Excess Pressure Could Crack Your Plumbing

As you can see, pipes can become cracked in a number of ways. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to tell if you have pipes that are particularly susceptible to cracking underground. You can, however, get a professional opinion on your home’s overall plumbing situation.

If your pipes are old or corroded the plumbing technician may suggest repiping, which is the process of replacing all the cold and hot water pipes in a home or building. If you think that sounds like a big job, you’re right. Luckily a skilled team can repipe a home with minimal water interruption and in a timely manner.

Not all plumbing issues or slab leaks require repiping. But, if your house is 50 years or older, you have rust and sediment building up in your water, or you are constantly having plumbing issues, repiping could be the right option.

About Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing

For 30 years the Hansen family has been providing plumbing services in Reno and surrounding areas. Their record speaks for itself, with many satisfied customers that are happy to hire them for any and all plumbing needs. You’ll never have to worry about bad workmanship, poor communication, or sub-par customer service with Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing.

Checking Your Sewer System to Avoid Disaster

Imagine feeling satisfaction having just finished your last load of laundry. You’re ready to settle down with a glass of wine or beer to congratulate yourself on a job well done, but before you do, you go to the restroom. There, you’re met with an angering and discouraging situation: your toilet is overflowing. You haven’t even used it in the past hour! What the heck is going on?

It may be that your sewer is clogged, and sadly, this is actually usually preventable, so it didn’t need to come to this. Knowing how to prevent clogs all starts with getting the right sewer system services. If you’re not sure where to start or when it’s needed, be sure to read this article!

How do You Know Your Sewer System?

The sewer system is the most important part of your home’s waste disposal since it’s where all that...stuff...goes. It’s vital that there is enough room in it and no clogs in the plumbing, or else there can be huge, disgusting problems that will arise.

All your home’s drain pipes and toilet pipes converge into a main line called a stack, which connects to the septic tank or public sewage system. If you have a septic tank on your property, it’s fully your responsibility to make sure it isn’t clogged up, too full, or leaking.

If you’re connected to the public sewage system, then you’re only responsible for the plumbing system in your home as well as the main line that connects your home to the public sewage system. Making sure your sewer system works well is vital to ensuring your comfort and safety, as sewage issues can easily turn into a sanitary nightmare.

How to be Proactive

It’s important to make sure your sewer system is checked every year to every 22 months. A professional can ascertain your sewer system is in good working order and clean out your system, and identify if there are any issues before they occur.

By being proactive instead of reactive, it’s possible to avoid many of the issues we’ll soon describe. In case of an emergency or for an inspection, make sure to figure out if you have a sewer clean-out.

This is a capped pipe connecting to your main sewer line--sometimes there’s also more than one clean-out. This is where you can drain excess water or where a professional can access the system to flush clogs and use tools for inspection and cleaning in case of a severe clog.

You can often find a sewer clean-out by your property line, outside the home, or in the basement. Sometimes it’s buried, so it might be necessary to find it underground, and if you don’t have one, it’s possible to install.

Alarming Signs of a Sewer Blockage

If your pipes leak in your home, it can seep into your flooring, which can cause smells, sanitary dangers, and even fines from the health department. As described earlier, one sign of a sewage problem could be the toilet overflowing after doing laundry.

Sometimes sewage can come back up out of the shower or sink drains. Gurgling in your drains or toilet is also a really bad sign. If the toilet won’t flush or multiple fixtures are clogged up, then you have a major sewer system clog on your hands.

Sometimes these can be caused by things you do in the home, while other times it could simply be tree roots were attracted to the moisture in pipe cracks and grew into the pipes until they started causing a blockage. Do you know the current state of your sewer system?

If you haven’t had it cleaned and inspected in several years, or if you’re experiencing some of the clogging issues described above, then call Iran Hansen and Sons Plumbing today at (775) 626-7777, and our professionals will make sure your sewage system is in great working condition to avoid unpleasant disasters.

The Importance of Water Safety

National Wellness Month takes place in the month of August. During this time, we’re able to reflect on the aspects of our lives that help to keep us safe and healthy.

While there are many things that are vital to our health and safety (clean air, vehicle safety features, healthy food) we are going to focus on clean water safety for today’s article.

Water is such an essential ingredient to our health and well-being that everyone should be aware of how to remain safe and healthy with its use and any potential problems that unsafe water circumstances can cause.

The Importance of Modern Day Plumbing Services

Modern plumbing services have enabled us to have fast, convenient, and clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

Things used to be pretty different before modern plumbing; collecting and disposing of water could turn into an all-day process.

Dirty water disposal was also more difficult and could be more unsanitary. which was the cause behind many diseases of the time.

Water Filters are Vital to Safe and Clean Water

While plumbing is a crucial and important development in our access to clean and safe water, water filtering is also vital to the process. While there are many small filtering processes that we run our water through for drinking and showering - such as water pitcher filters, showerhead filters, faucet filters, and under the sink filters - we also have various other filters we use to filter within our home. Here are a few of the most common ones:

• Reverse Osmosis Filter - Pollutants are flushed through small pores, leaving clean water.
• Ceramic Filter - Silver treated ceramic screen out mold and algae.
• Activated Carbon Filter - Carbon in charcoal traps mold and mildew in its pores.
• Activated Alumina Filter - Aluminum oxide removes arsenic, fluoride, and selenium from the water.
• Ultraviolet Filter - Living microorganisms in the water are killed by UV light.

Preventing Harm from Water Leaks

While there are many safety hazards that can present through water, such as drinking dirty water and drowning, those aren’t the only problems!

In fact, water leaks themselves can cause a whole array of problems such as structural damage, mold, and mildew. The mold and mildew potential can be especially hazardous because it can cause a variety of serious health problems that can last long-term.

Structural damage to a home can also potentially lead to unsafe and unsteady living conditions, such as floor or roof collapse. Water is a powerful thing. It has a huge impact on our day-to-day lives and health.

It’s important that we drink clean and filtered water, that we keep our plumbing in good shape within our homes, and that we pay attention to things like water leaks so they don’t lead to further damage or health problems. For this National Wellness Month, make sure you’re on top of all aspects of your water safety.

Call Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing at (775) 626-7777 if you require any repairs, replacements, or assessments with any of your plumbing or filters. One of our licensed and experienced technicians can help make sure your water is safe as well as ensure that your plumbing is in good shape inside and out.

Plumbing Tip Fails from DIY Dads

Where would we be without our fathers? They wrap us in their protective arms from the day that we’re born and never let go. Those arms teach us how to stay strong when times get tough and teach us how to love the people that matter most. Dad always knows best, except for the times when he doesn’t.

We’ve all got memories of our dad digging into a project and getting elbow deep before realizing that he doesn’t know how to fix the toilet. In the spirit of Father’s Day, let’s revisit some of dad’s greatest plumbing fails.

Toilet Installation Gone Wrong

In many cases, installing a new toilet is straightforward and simple. However, there are plenty of ways that it can go wrong if dad doesn’t know what he’s doing. After he’s removed the old toilet, did your plumbing dad remember to inspect the flooring for damage before installing the new toilet?

If there’s any water damage, wooden floors can be warped or weakened. Damaged flooring can cause many problems. First, the floor will be unstable, which is unsafe. Also, an uneven floor makes it very difficult to get a good wax seal on the new toilet.

If the seal on the new toilet isn’t right, it could leak just like the old one. In this case, you could end up with a lot of water damage under the floor. If the bathroom is on an upper level, the water will eventually make its way to the room below and cause damage to its ceiling.

Overall, the cost to fix the water damage will be much higher, so it’s best to have a professional replace a toilet if your dad isn’t sure what he’s doing.

Perpetual Water Leaks

If your mom finds a leak under her kitchen sink and brings it to your dad’s attention, the last thing she probably expects is for him to grab his trusty roll of duct tape. Much to your dad’s surprise, duct tape does NOT solve every problem.

Duct tape works perfectly for patching a tent, doubling as a lint roller, or make crafts, but it’s not a water-tight solution for a leaky pipe. It might help stem the flow of water for a little while, but it’s not a permanent solution.

To avoid further water damage from the leak, because duct tape isn’t actually a fix for it, encourage your dad to call a professional to replace the pipe, reseal the connections, or replace the fixtures. Both mom and dad will thank you when they realize how much money they saved by getting professional help.

Snaking a Clogged Drain

Drain snaking is Plumbing 101, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy for someone without professional training. Your dad probably feels confident in his skills because he has, no doubt, had a lot of success with fixing things around the house.

However, you can cause major problems if you drain snake when you aren’t sure what you’re doing. If you’re not a trained plumber, you will have a harder time telling the difference between the feeling of hitting a curve in the pipe and hitting the clog.

If you think you’ve reached the clog, but you’ve actually just encountered a curve in the pipe, you could end up drilling a hole through a perfectly good pipe. A professional will have to come in to replace the pipe, which is a much more expensive repair than snaking the pipe. As you can see, a well-meaning plumbing dad can unintentionally create a much bigger issue.

DIY Dads are the Best!

You can learn an awful lot from a curious dad who likes to try new things. Some of our best memories are standing by our dad’s side, handing him tools while he worked through our mom’s honey-do list. However, some jobs are best left to the professionals.

In honor of Father’s Day, give your dad a call and tell him how much you appreciate everything he taught you. And remember, when you have a problem with your plumbing, call a professional.

The Importance of Memorial Day

It’s easy to take for granted the many everyday commodities and luxuries such as the advent of automobiles, electricity, and indoor plumbing which we’ve all grown accustomed to in this day and age.

Regardless of how hectic our lives may be, it’s important to remember to pay homage this Memorial Day to the men and women who have fought for our country and way of life, making these luxuries possible.

Let’s pledge to remember to keep them in our hearts and minds for paying the ultimate sacrifice for this country, and to do a better job of understanding the origins of this celebration.

Decoration Day - First Celebrations

The beginnings of Memorial Day, or also referred to as Decoration Day, date back to the Civil War. People began to decorate the graves of fallen Confederate and Union soldiers with flags and other adornments.

Not only was this an opportunity to grieve and honor soldiers, but also it helped start the healing process for so many of our soldiers coming back from war.

As years progressed, and more conflicts occurred, Decoration Day became Memorial Day as a way to memorialize the soldiers that had given the ultimate sacrifice for our country, along with those still serving at home and overseas.

Today, Memorial Day is unofficially known as the start of summer, but also it’s an opportunity to thank those that have given us a chance to celebrate.

Salute The Troops

The prosperity and freedom that reigns in this country is protected by the armed forces' commitment to this great country. Because of them, we’ve been able to enjoy many of the luxuries that we appreciate today.

Whether that’s a heater or air conditioner, or on a larger scale, the right to vote. Although some soldiers in our history have returned to little fanfare, including those in the Vietnman War, today more than ever, we understand the sacrifice the’ve made for our country.

This memorial day, try to pay tribute to the armed forces by perhaps making a donation to an affiliated charity, attending a museum or parade, or by simply inviting a veteran out to lunch.

Simple gestures to display your gratitude for their service to this country can go a long way. Regardless of your political inclinations, the troops of this great nation deserve recognition and respect for their unwavering dedication to the cause of freedom and liberty for all.

Enjoying a Moment of Gratitude

At Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing we would also like to take this moment to thank you, the loyal customer. It is because of you that we work tirelessly to deliver the best plumbing solutions to our neighbors in the Reno area.

This great country allows us to pursue the greatest of dreams in an environment of prosperity and freedom. As long as this country continues to embody those key core principles, we will continue to do our best to please our customers' ever-changing needs and demands.

This Memorial Day, make sure to keep the armed forces of this great country in your hearts and prayers. Give thanks and praise to the brave men and women that fight or have fought for our right to live and prosper in a free, democratic nation.

Tired of Being April Fooled? Let Us Help!

While we can’t protect you from being pranked by your friends or siblings, we can help you out if you’re tired of being pranked (so to speak) by your plumbing expenses. If you’re not intentional about your plumbing maintenance, things like high water bills, plumbing repairs caused by clogged drains or leaky pipes, and replacing old and worn out pipes can start to add up.

Plumbing expenses can end up costing you an arm and a leg, making you look like the biggest fool of the month! Read on to learn some hot tips from Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing about how you can use your plumbing maintenance to save you more money!

Rain Water: Nature’s Money Saving Gift

The first money-saving tip we've got for you is to harvest rainwater and incorporate it into your everyday plumbing! Yes, that's right; we said "harvest rainwater."

Harvesting rainwater is just a matter of collecting the water when it falls and storing it in a drum or reservoir to be used as you see fit.

Obviously, rainwater is not safe for use as drinking water, but it is highly useful for non-potable tasks like flushing toilets and household cleaning.

While the initial investment of buying a rainwater drum and installing the system can be a bit pricey, collecting and recycling rain can save hundreds of dollars on your water bills, as well as reduce your use of fresh water, making your home more eco-friendly.

Plumbing Maintenance: How it Helps

The most important thing to keep in mind if you’re looking to eliminate the cost of plumbing repairs and replacements from your budget is to maintain your plumbing. Here are some of the ways regular plumbing maintenance can help you save money:

• Reduces risk of clogged drains, which can cost up to $275 to repair
• Extends the life of your pipes, so you can go longer without having to pay for repiping service
• Alerts you of any potential issues within your plumbing systems before they cause more expensive problems

Save Money With Help From Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing

The best way to ensure that you are not overspending on plumbing maintenance and other services, like repairs or installations, it to find a plumbing service company that offers quality work and fair, honest pricing.

If you live in the Reno area, then Ira Hansen and Sons can be that company for you. Not only do we offer competitive pricing on all our plumbing services, but we also have coupons available on our website at all times, to help you save more on each service.

At Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing, you always get personalized service to fit your exact needs. Why? Because as a local family owned and operated business, our team knows the importance of treating all of our customers like family.

Our technicians are friendly, professional, honest, and hardworking, so you can rest easy knowing that they'll do everything in their power to come up with a plumbing solution that makes sense for you. Give Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing a call at (775) 626-7777 to speak with a member of our team in Reno, NV today!

A Well Pump For Every Flower

Happy spring, friends! This time of year, it’s hard not to feel happy with all the colorful flowers sprouting up from the ground. But our favorite part of spring isn’t the flowers at all. It’s the plumbing well pumps! Without them, we would be carrying water out of wells with a bucket like in the olden days.

Did you know that there are different types of well pumps that you can choose from, depending on how deep your well is and how much water you need pumped at a time? Most people don’t. Let’s take a look, then, and learn a bit more about each of the different types of pumps.

Should You Install a Shallow Well Jet Pump?

The first question you should ask yourself when looking for a new well pump is "how deep is my well?"

If your well is about twenty-five feet deep, or less, then a shallow well jet pump is the perfect choice for you.

Jet pumps use atmospheric pressure to create a vacuum that sucks water up from the well into your home. The pump itself sits outside of the well, mounted on a wall either in your home or in the well house.

Maybe a Deep Well Jet Pump is a Better Fit For You

If you like the idea of a jet pump, but your well is deeper than twenty-five feet, you can always opt for a deep well jet pump! Depending on the depth of your well, this may be a good choice for you.

The jet pump works in the same way it does for a more shallow well, only the jet is separate from the motor and impeller and resides in the actual well. While a deep well jet pump can serve a well as deep as a few hundred feet, it is not ideal for that kind of depth.

Consider The Deep Well Submersible Pump Too!

For wells that are a hundred feet deep or more, the best option for pumping water is a deep well submersible pump. As its name implies, a submersible pump sits down in the well, below the water line and, rather than lifting the water with suction, moves the water up the pipe itself.

You could even install a submersible pump in a shallow well, though it is not recommended. In shallow pumps, your submersible pump is more likely to be affected by contaminants like algae, silt, and sand.

Submersible pumps are ideal for just about any well because they can last as long as twenty years without servicing! There's an old saying you've probably heard that goes like this- "there are plenty of fish in the sea." While you've probably heard it in the context of a breakup, as a reminder that someone else will swim along, it can also apply to shopping around for a new well pump.

There are so many varieties and kinds of pumps, just like there are endless varieties of fish in the sea. Make sure that before you settle on buying a new well pump, that you've looked into all your options. If you're still not sure which well pump is the best choice for you, call Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing at (775) 626-7777 today to speak with a plumber in Reno, NV.

Top 10 Plumbing Memes of 2018!

Hello and welcome to the Best Plumbing Meme Awards! At Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing, we know the importance of enjoying the funnier things in life, while also being serious professionals.

That’s why, as 2018 draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to honor some of the plumbing memes we saw this year that made us laugh the most. So without further ado, Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing proudly presents the top 10 best plumbing memes of 2018!

10. The Social Shower Curtain
This is a somewhat amusing picture of someone using a funny shower curtain designed to look like its own facebook page. While it gets points for being meta, this isn’t really a meme, so we’re leaving it at #10.

9. It’s Really “Nut” That Funny
The next meme finds itself this low on the list due to a lack of originality. It’s a pun about a nut, and even says itself that it’s “nut funny”!

8. Points for Educational Value
This meme is hands down the least funny meme on our list. How so? Well, there's no punchline, so there's no joke. But that's okay because this meme's merit lies not in its humor, but in its educational value.

7. The Ron Burgundy
Who doesn’t love a good Anchorman meme?! And as much as we all roll our eyes at the “look how big my biceps are” jokes, this one is pretty funny!

6. An Unfortunate Viking Adventure
This meme takes the #6 spot just because the image of a man floating through a flooded basement in a storage tub while wearing a Viking hat is amusing. It's not higher on the list because the caption isn't very witty.

5. The Most Interesting Plumbing Meme in the World
We can never say no to a "The Most Interesting Man in the World" meme. They are always so relatable, and this plumbing specific one is no exception! Let's be honest; no one ever remembers to get everything they need for a plumbing job on the first trip to the hardware store!

4. SMH
This meme made it pretty high on the list by sheer force of head shaking that it induced. It’s so dumb, but you have to admit, it made you laugh!

3. The Unexpected Punchline
This meme made us laugh out loud because of the abrupt and unexpected punchline. And on a more serious note, more people need to see this meme. Seriously...just don’t.

2. Obligatory Cat Meme
No funny meme countdown list would be complete without at least one cat meme, and ours is no different! Please enjoy this little guy as much as we did!

1. We Love Dog Memes!
As much as we all love a good cat meme, we are suckers for cute dog memes! These two adorable handy “helpers” snuck into the top spot on cuteness alone! That wraps up our countdown of the top 10 best plumbing memes from 2018! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Don't forget to share with your friends to send them a laugh. And remember, if you are in need of plumbing service in Reno, call Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing at (775) 626-7777!

Are You Using The Best Plumbing Backflow Prevention?

Backflow is a serious plumbing issue that should always be taken seriously. It is important to install the best plumbing prevention devices, to protect your family from the dangers associated with backflow, and to have that device routinely tested at least once a year.

How can you tell when backflow has occurred? Look for the following signs:

A decrease in water quality, as evidenced by drinking water that is discolored, oily, soapy, cloudy, or foamy. Water may also have unpleasant tastes or smells of salt, medicine, fuel, or other chemicals.

Lowered water pressure, which is likely the reason the backflow occurred. Perhaps we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here. You may have some important questions like “what the heck is backflow?” or “what kind of prevention device should I install?” so let’s examine those things.

Do You Know What Backflow Is?

Backflow is when the water that is supposed to flowing away from your home flows in the wrong direction and mixes in with the potable water flowing into your home.

This brings with it all manners of contaminants including human waste, dirt, soap residue, and other bacteria and chemicals that can cause severe illness and even hospitalization.

One issue that can cause backflow is a broken water line. When a line breaks, that instantly changes the pressure in your pipes, and when the pressure in a pipe is lost, the water is no longer being pushed out of your home so that it can slide back into your water supply lines.

How Can an Air Gap Help?

One option for backflow prevention is to install a tundish to create an air gap in your system, through which contaminated water cannot flow through.

Tundishes are usually installed near or on a pressure relief valve. They are convenient because they come in a range of sizes and angles to fit just about any pipe system.

Creating an air gap are can also protect against backpressure, another form of backflow.

Try a Pressure Vacuum Breaker!

Pressure vacuum breakers are another affordable backflow prevention system option you may consider.

As said earlier, backflow is often caused by a change in the pressure within your pipes. Pressure vacuum breakers have a check valve that will usually allow water to pass through.

If something goes wrong though, and the air pressure becomes higher than the water pressure in the water pipes, the devices vented chamber will begin to open and close the check valve to prevent backflow.

So What is The Right Device For Your Home?

This question should be answered after an in-depth evaluation of your home’s unique plumbing system.

Living in Reno, NV, where our winters don’t get very cold, a pressure vacuum breaker should do just fine, unless there are other issues with your pipes that are better handled by an air gap device like a tundish.

Remember that air gaps are especially helpful in preventing backpressure, so if this is a concern for you, keep that in mind. We leave you with this:

Whatever backflow device you choose to install, make sure to have it tested and certified by a plumbing professional on a yearly basis. Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing is always available to help our community stay safe from backflow!

A Student’s Guide to Plumbing Materials

New to the world of plumbing services? Not sure what material would be the best option to replace the pipes in your home? Today there are so many options available for plumbing materials, that it can be overwhelming to find the best one.

The truth is that the kind of material you should use depends on the type of home you live in, your lifestyle, and your budget. Continue reading to learn a bit more about three of the leading options for plumbing materials.

Cast Iron

The first plumbing material we'll be looking at today is cast iron. This metal, made of a combination of carbon and iron, is often used for drain waste vent pipes but is also a good choice for any underground pipes or for stacking indoor pipes.

Like any plumbing material, it has its benefits as well as its drawbacks. To start with, cast iron has less of a fire hazard attached to it than plastic piping, since it is not flammable and doesn't emit harmful gases when it becomes heated to a certain temperature.

Cast Iron pipes are especially useful in apartment buildings or condominiums, as well as corporate office buildings because the thickness of the metal makes for excellent sound suppression. Iron is also incredibly durable, and despite its weight, is still fairly easy to install.

While cast iron pipes cost about the same as other metal pipes, it is far more expensive than plastic, or PVC, pipes. The installation of cast iron pipes, however, may be more costly, as it is heavy and may require more technicians for the job. Laying cast iron pipes in a home of about 1,500 square feet with 2 bathrooms can cost as much as $8,000-$10,000.

Chrome Copper Pipes

Chromed copper pipes may cost as much as cast iron, but they are still the most popular material used in plumbing today (and have been for over 70 years)!

This is likely due to copper's ability to resist corrosion, as well as its ability to hold up against high water pressure (as much as 1,000 psi of pressure).

Copper is lightweight and therefore, more comfortable, safer, and less expensive to install than other metal pipes. Copper is also a lead-free metal and is more eco-friendly than PVC or other plastic pipes.

Used mainly for water supply lines (like your bathroom and kitchen plumbing), copper pipes cost more to install than plastic pipes, but they also last far longer. It can cost as much as $6,000 to $10,000 to install copper pipes in a 1,500 sq ft home with two bathrooms.

PVC (or Poly Vinyl Chloride)

Finally, we reach the age of Polyvinyl Chloride (or PVC) pipes. Plastic pipes are becoming increasingly popular for use as drain waste vent or water supply pipes.

They do not last as long as metal pipes, but are so affordable and easy to work with that they can often be replaced with little to no problem. PVC is a lightweight and flexible non-toxic plastic. Due to its flexibility, PVC can be used in a range of areas for different purposes.

The cost of working with PVC is far lower than any metal pipe material. In fact, PVC piping only costs around $3-$4 per sqft of piping versus the $10-$20 per square foot that copper pipes cost.