LESLIE: Heading over to Maryland to talk with Nora, who’s got some unwanted situations happening in the basement. What’s going on? There’s water?
TOM: Uh-oh.
NORA: The water is actually brown.
TOM: So are you getting any leaks in those pipes, Nora?
NORA: No, thank God, but I was wondering if just replacing the horizontal pipes with PVC would take care of the brown water or if I have to do the vertical and tear up the wall.
TOM: Well here’s what you need to do. Let me ask you about your main water line. Has that ever been replaced or is that still steel?
NORA: It’s still steel.
TOM: OK. The first pipe to replace is the main water pipe, from the house to the street; the second thing to do is all the horizontal lines; and the third thing to do are all the vertical lines. That would be the order of replacement. This is a project that might not be an immediate emergency but you need to get on it. I wouldn’t waste much more time because eventually you’re going to get a break that’s going to happen at the least opportune time and the price goes up when it becomes an emergency.
NORA: And is it – your opinion is the PVC would be the best …?
TOM: You can use PEX for your interior water lines. That’s a new material that’s getting a lot of – very, very popular; very durable material. Stands for cross-linked polyethylene. Or you could use copper. Either way you’ve got to get going on those pipes.
Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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