Plumbing quandry

[Roushford6]

This technically isn't garage related, but I figured there are plenty of knowledgeable people on here to give me some advice. My home was built in the mid 50s on a slab instead of a basement (not common in my area). The first floor plumbing is galvanized pipe embedded in the concrete. I'm planning a bathroom remodel and I was wondering if it would be smart to install PEX tubing in the walls for future use. I'm having no issues currently, I'm concerned that the pipes will eventually rust enough internally to restrict flow.

 

[gmcgeo]

decades of exposure to water will cause galvanized pipes to corrode and rust on the inside.

If it was me i would run pex and get rid of the galv. pipe.

 

[Bert_]

Can you get all the way back to the water supply?

 

[Roushford6]

I agree, but I don't want to replumb the whole house right now. That's why I thought it would be smart to have PEX in the wall cavity and ceiling so I wouldn't have to tear the entire bathroom up again in the future.

 

[danfromsyr]

it's always handy to give your future self some accessible stubs in convenient and well marked locations.

 

[Roushford6]

Can you get all the way back to the water supply?

I can, but the entire house would need to be replumbed. I figured if I installed PEX for future use, I wouldn't have to destroy the whole bathroom again when I pull the trigger on replacing the plumbing.

 

[Jacko264]

If you are thinking of re- doing the bath room later why not do the
pluming right now as have to do it twice
Graham

 

[nadogail]

I agree that leaving room for future updates is generally a good idea.

 

[Roushford6]

If you are thinking of re- doing the bath room later why not do the
pluming right now as have to do it twice
Graham

I'm doing the bathroom now, but to eliminate the galvanized pipe I would have to pretty much replumb the whole house. My thought would be to have the PEX in the cavities so when I do replumb everything I wouldn't have to tear up the whole bathroom again.

 

[gmcgeo]

I'm doing the bathroom now, but to eliminate the galvanized pipe I would have to pretty much replumb the whole house. My thought would be to have the PEX in the cavities so when I do replumb everything I wouldn't have to tear up the whole bathroom again.

You can connect the pex to a portion of the galv. pipe and do the entire bathroom in pex so you do not have to change it in the future, then tie onto that when you are ready to do the house.

 

[reader2580]

Where are the stubs going to eventually connect to, the attic? If the attic doesn't it freeze in your location?

 

[PoorUB]

I kind of understand what you are talking about, but I fail to understand how you might tie in at a later date. seems to me you will be cutting holes in walls and making a mess at a later date any way if you re-plumb.

I do agree on getting rid of the galvanized plumbing.

 

[sjvicker]

Pex is cheap. Run as much as you can now and draw a good map so you know in the future where to locate it.

I'd make sure wherever you intend to connect it to your active water lines that you put a ball valve and access hatch so you can shut off the new runs.

 

[Roushford6]

Where are the stubs going to eventually connect to, the attic? If the attic doesn't it freeze in your location?

It will be between the first and second floor. When I reno the kitchen (centrally located) I will have the best access to 75% of the household plumbing and I will make the switch to PEX at that time.

 

[Roushford6]

I kind of understand what you are talking about, but I fail to understand how you might tie in at a later date. seems to me you will be cutting holes in walls and making a mess at a later date any way if you re-plumb.

I do agree on getting rid of the galvanized plumbing.

My kitchen is right next to the bathroom and when it comes time to renovate that I will have access to the majority of the plumbing in the house and will make the switch to PEX at that time.

 

[dcg9381]

PEX, yes. Absolutely. The "top end" of PEX is uponor, which requires paying attention to hardware fittings as well as PEX tube type and some not-inexpensive tools, but it's great stuff. Even regular crimp on PEX is a vast improvement and it's come way down in price. There are some darn cool things you can do with shower diverter valves (multi-head) that really make a shower a show-piece... (Our shower has 5 heads, 2 diverter valves, 3 main mixer valves) - it was my first "plumbing project" and I could have done it with 2 mixers and 1-2 diverters.

I have never had a PEX failure.

 

[reader2580]

Uponor PEX is the same as expansion PEX or F1960. Personally, I would only do expansion PEX. Some rental places will rent the Milwaukee expansion tool.

I would use PEX-A pipe no matter what as PEX-A is much more flexible.

 

[TailGunner3000]

You can connect the pex to a portion of the galv. pipe and do the entire bathroom in pex so you do not have to change it in the future, then tie onto that when you are ready to do the house.

This.

 

[The Cobbler]

it's better to have it & not need it than to need it & not have it
if you think you need it,(which you likely will) put it in. just a matter of time before your galvanized starts to leak or corrode so badly you will need to change it out

 

[Bopbop]

Fifty year old galvanized water pipe underground and in a slab is a time bomb that will be an issue any day. I am a plumbing engineer by trade designing all type of buildings. In the past year I did a review of a 50 year old building with galvanize pipe underground. All was fine then and they had no issues. I recommended replacing it in the renovation project and they said no. In the 6 months between the inspection and design for the renovations they had 2 major below slab leaks.
If you plan on keeping the existing piping in place for the time being I would recommend that you connect to the existing hot and cold water below slab in the area of renovations and extend it to above ceiling. From above the ceiling extend it to the plumbing fixtures in that area and connect. Cap and abandon any water piping in the area below slab. This way when it comes time to repipe the entire house you will only need to connect to the new existing piping in the attic. I plan on doing the bathroom s in my house this way when I remodel them in the next year.
Just to add something else is your sewer pipes cast iron or Plastic? If they are cast iron you may want to look at replacing these in the area of the remodel. There has been a lot of issues with 50 year old cast iron pipe.

 

[mrpizza]

I use pex with the stainless cinch rings on everything. It's easy to install and quick. I like that I can install the whole run before securing the rings, I can change anything if needed before making it permanent-ish.

 

[Roushford6]

Fifty year old galvanized water pipe underground and in a slab is a time bomb that will be an issue any day. I am a plumbing engineer by trade designing all type of buildings. In the past year I did a review of a 50 year old building with galvanize pipe underground. All was fine then and they had no issues. I recommended replacing it in the renovation project and they said no. In the 6 months between the inspection and design for the renovations they had 2 major below slab leaks.
If you plan on keeping the existing piping in place for the time being I would recommend that you connect to the existing hot and cold water below slab in the area of renovations and extend it to above ceiling. From above the ceiling extend it to the plumbing fixtures in that area and connect. Cap and abandon any water piping in the area below slab. This way when it comes time to repipe the entire house you will only need to connect to the new existing piping in the attic. I plan on doing the bathroom s in my house this way when I remodel them in the next year.
Just to add something else is your sewer pipes cast iron or Plastic? If they are cast iron you may want to look at replacing these in the area of the remodel. There has been a lot of issues with 50 year old cast iron pipe.

My sewer pipe was originally cast iron that transitioned to clay pipe that went out to the street. Had issues with roots getting through the clay so that part was replaced with PVC. I'll have to deal with that eventually too.

 

[no704]

Had orngeburg sewage lines. Great stuff!

 

[Firebrick43]

Had orngeburg sewage lines. Great stuff!

Cheap **** **** pipe. What was grandpa thinking when he installed it????

 

[no704]

That’s a whole other story.

 

[crasher98]

Another one of those "seemed like a good idea at the time" stories! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangeburg_pipe