Galvanized pipe *****

[homebuilt burner]

I am getting ready to pour the new garage floor. Graded the subgrade, set the foam, laid out the pex, and I needed fittings for the test manifold. But hey, mom and dad are over by Menards' right now I'll call them. Dad picked up galvanized fittings. Set up for pressure test fill her up to 80 psi just for a look. Next morning before work Zero psi. ****!! It leaks at every single fitting. So take it all apart and reseal every joint and tighten until no more soap bubbles. So, I guess I'll have to check again in the morning before we pour. fingers crossed. Sorry had to vent.

 

[Hawk]

Nothing personal but if I was doing a new install/build no way in he double hockey sticks would I use galvanized pipe.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Nothing personal but if I was doing a new install/build no way in he double hockey sticks would I use galvanized pipe.

Presumably, they are only being used for the pressure test.

 

[homebuilt burner]

I was not happy when dad brought it over but what do you do at 8:00 pm and have to get a test manifold put on it. I just went out and checked again and Now it has held pressure for about an hour, should be good to go in the a.m to pour. But, yes that will get replumbed with brass or machined steel not galvanized or maliable black pipe.

 

[Caman]

First off get better Teflon tape, that cheap thin stuff is garbage, I strictly use the thicker stuff like is meant for gas lines. Also when I'm piping with something like galvanized or black pipe, and even the larger brass stuff like 3/4" and up I will put a few wraps of Teflon on then an even layer of pipe dope on the leading half of the thread. Very rarely will that leak. I even know a couple plumbers that will then place a couple more wraps of Teflon over the pipe dope, but I've never found a need for it.

 

[Norcal]

Another problem is cheap ChiCom fittings.

 

[Strouty]

Rectorseal.

 

[Cyberbear]

I've used galvanized plumbing all my life and never had any major problems. I did once have a brass shut-off valve leak due to a casting flaw, but nothing else. I try to avoid Asian fittings when I can but you get what you are willing to pay for.
I believe it mostly comes down to the skill and experience of the pipe installer. These traits also help prevent leaks because a skilled person will notice when something isn't right during the fabrication process. I've seen many people who didn't know they had cross threaded a joint until after it was leaking, or how to fix it properly.

 

[bwringer]

Another problem is cheap ChiCom fittings.

Yep. The big box stores just love the shoddy Chinesium plumbing supplies.

 

[Hawk]

When I was a commercial plumber (for to much of my career) I plumb a ton of galvanized. The main reason I dislike it is because you will most likely eventually have chemical reactions with the water. I have seen far more buildup internally with galvanized than with copper, cpvc, or pex. So even though, properly installed, it is a good product I prefer other materials.

 

[Kaizen]

hd up here has a 4 prong copper manifold for pex you could have soldered up to use

 

[55bigblockcid]

Galvanized pipe is good for absolutely nothing but fence posts.

 

[CGT80]

Galvanized pipe is good for absolutely nothing but fence posts.

It *****, even for building gates out of. Try welding 3", 4", and 5" by 0.250" wall galvanized steel pipe to build forest service style gates. It was supposed to be raw pipe and then hot dipped after welding, but my brother told his company that we could grind, weld, and then use galvagard on it. What a mess. I was against it all the way and his decision made the job 5x harder.

Rector seal was my go to when I worked on plumbing as a pro. I was not a plumber by trade though. The rector seal can make a mess of faucet aerators though. I would pull them and run hot and cold water to flush out the faucet first, which is wise to do because of sediment in the pipes where we live anyways. Rector seal took care of leaks that tape failed on, but it had that drawback. It is a pain to clean up. It seems like water causes it to set up to a firm state, vs. the thin paste consistency it has in the can.

I prefer copper or brass to work with. Pex was showing up a few years ago, when I was getting out of the construction business. I haven't had a chance to try it out.