Eliminate Brown Water from Pipes

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?

NORA: Well no, it’s not water in the basement. The water that goes through the house; the pipes are galvanized and they’re old.

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.