We’ve owned a 1926 home in Portland, Oregon for 5 years. The water pressure in Portland is good but we have very poor flow at our house. For example, you can’t run a sprinkler and do the laundry, or flush the toilet when someone is in the shower. I just checked the pressure near where it comes into the house and at a hose bib and it reads 45 psi. The supply line entering the house is a 3/4 inch galvanized pipe. I went to see if the shut off at the street wasn’t all the way open but all I see at the street is a water meter.
Do I need to replace the supply line from my house to the street?
Thank you!
Replies
You probably need to replace any and all galvanized pipe anywhere in your house or yard. It has a useful life of *maybe* 40 years and after that it's so clogged up that waterflow is significantly reduced. You might want to have a plumber quote you on a complete repipe.
The only galvanized pipe is in the supply from the street. Everything else is pex or copper.
have a house in Denver, a bit older, that had the same problem. New copper from the street solved it...Guy with an air powered torpedo dug a hole on both ends, and ran the thing between the holes and viola. it was done...sandy soil, no rocks.
Bud
It's not pressure you lack it's volume, a new 1" line would be the ticket.
View Image
These are 3/4 galvanized fitting with the normal buildup of minerals.
Edited 9/14/2008 7:37 pm ET by McPlumb
A picture is worth.....!
It depends on the local water conditions.I replaced a number of GI pipe in a friends home. They where 50 YO and only had a slight whitist coating on the inside. No buildup.The only except was one place where someone where it was joined to copper without a dielectric union..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Yes - you need to replace it.
Jeff
" The water pressure in Portland is good but we have very poor flow at our house."
There is no such thing as pressure in Portland.
Because of both static and dynamic reasons the pressure varies all over the place.
"I just checked the pressure near where it comes into the house and at a hose bib and it reads 45 psi."
If that is static pressure then even with a new big pipe you will still have lower than normal pressure.
40 psi is the minimum by code.
But if you have any restriction that would make it worse at that low of supply pressure.
Probably the best comparison is to check with your immediate neighbors.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Short answer: Shut down the service at the meter; pull the adapter where the galvanised meets the copper or pex apart, and LOOK.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....
Edited 9/15/2008 12:31 am ET by Dinosaur