We built our house with the help of U-build it in 2000. For the most part, U-Build it did a good job and the only part of this story that applies to them was the plumbing contractor referral. Basically, the only one available to do the job (in our time frame) was a, "just on his own" journeyman level plumber, with a brother helper with an axe to grind (with the brother). We had to deal with one major sabotage incident shortly after moving into the house.
The problem? Well, where do we start. First more background. We have copper pipes and well water (capped at 11 gallons a minute) with high iron content. We have a recirculating pump on our hot water line. The leaks are only in the hot water pipes. Everytime we use the small jetted tub in our upstairs' bathroom we spring a leak. The plumbing air vents on the top of the house are not capped.
The minor problems are a lot of burping and belching drains and toilets. Some times it is worse than others.
The big problem is repeated leaks in the copper pipes. We have had our local plumber out 15 times over the last 5 years; sometimes we got a 2 for 1 deal with leak repairs. The ceiling has been cut into 5 times, the rest of the time it has been leaks in our crawl space and mechanical room. We go through 6 month stretches with nothing and then, like last week, we get a new leak.
We have talked to our local plumber about this problem and while he has done a good job with our leaks and has had some good ideas about the situation, he really has not shown in interest in helping solve the problem.
The first opinion was that it was electrosis (sp?) with sand/iron particles beating the inside of our pipes. That may have been a problem at one point, but it since has been solved and we believe we have removed this as a probable cause.
We don't have a water filtration system and while that could be a possible solution, nobody has been able to say that any of their products will solve the problem. Sadly, I don't have deep pockets to get one and hope that it fixes the problem.
Our local plumber suggested a new process of coating the inside of the pipes, but I know nothing about this product or process and the plumber, despite multiple requests, forgets to get us the information "when he can find it".
I now have a new leak in the mechanical room that I have temporarily repaired with latex gloves (I have had to do this too many times, but it works on the short term), but I don't want to call my local plumber to put a band aid on the problem, I need a solution and a fix.
If you asked me, as a layperson, knowing nothing about plumbing, there is a lot of pressure on my plumbing system that is always looking for an escape.
Any bright ideas before I boldly try another plumber?
The problem? Well, where do we start. First more background. We have copper pipes and well water (capped at 11 gallons a minute) with high iron content. We have a recirculating pump on our hot water line. The leaks are only in the hot water pipes. Everytime we use the small jetted tub in our upstairs' bathroom we spring a leak. The plumbing air vents on the top of the house are not capped.
The minor problems are a lot of burping and belching drains and toilets. Some times it is worse than others.
The big problem is repeated leaks in the copper pipes. We have had our local plumber out 15 times over the last 5 years; sometimes we got a 2 for 1 deal with leak repairs. The ceiling has been cut into 5 times, the rest of the time it has been leaks in our crawl space and mechanical room. We go through 6 month stretches with nothing and then, like last week, we get a new leak.
We have talked to our local plumber about this problem and while he has done a good job with our leaks and has had some good ideas about the situation, he really has not shown in interest in helping solve the problem.
The first opinion was that it was electrosis (sp?) with sand/iron particles beating the inside of our pipes. That may have been a problem at one point, but it since has been solved and we believe we have removed this as a probable cause.
We don't have a water filtration system and while that could be a possible solution, nobody has been able to say that any of their products will solve the problem. Sadly, I don't have deep pockets to get one and hope that it fixes the problem.
Our local plumber suggested a new process of coating the inside of the pipes, but I know nothing about this product or process and the plumber, despite multiple requests, forgets to get us the information "when he can find it".
I now have a new leak in the mechanical room that I have temporarily repaired with latex gloves (I have had to do this too many times, but it works on the short term), but I don't want to call my local plumber to put a band aid on the problem, I need a solution and a fix.
If you asked me, as a layperson, knowing nothing about plumbing, there is a lot of pressure on my plumbing system that is always looking for an escape.
Any bright ideas before I boldly try another plumber?