Are you contemplating epoxy pipe lining but wondering if it works for the plumbing pipes of both residential and commercial buildings? The truth is that epoxy pipe lining works on almost every type of pipe, whether it’s located in a commercial building, apartment complex, condominium, or residential home. Regardless of the type of structure you own, you may be able to rehabilitate your plumbing pipes with epoxy pipe lining. Let’s take a deep dive into the types of pipes that can be lined and how they can benefit your structure and your wallet.
Can Epoxy Pipe Lining Be Used for Both Residential and Commercial Buildings?
You can have the plumbing pipes of residential and commercial buildings lined. Whether you own a single or multistory house, condo, apartment building, townhouse, duplex, or co-op, you can get your aging plumbing pipes lined with epoxy in order to stop corrosion and further deterioration of the host pipes. The same is true for commercial buildings. The plumbing pipes of manufacturing buildings, office buildings, retail stores, fast food places, warehouses, hotels, convention centers, sporting venues, industrial complexes, and data storage centers can all benefit from being lined with epoxy.
What Types of Pipes Are the Best Candidates for Epoxy Pipe Lining?
When you think of plumbing pipes, you might envision PVC, PEX, or copper, and while these are very common types of plumbing pipes due to their longevity, durability, and safety, epoxy pipe lining can be used inside many other types of pipe, including:
- PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride – These pipes are extremely durable, strong and long-lived. They are most typically found as drain pipes in kitchens and bathrooms. However, it’s not uncommon to also find them being used as water mains for residential and commercial properties.
- CPVC – Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride – This type of pipe is not as popular as PVC to despite being able to handle hotter temperatures. CPVC can handle temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, while PVC can only handle temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the reason it’s not used more is because it’s not entirely chemically resistant, which can lead to degradation.
- PEX – Cross-Linked Polyethylene – PEX pipes have all the same characteristics as PVC. They’re strong, durable and long-lived. However, they’re also flexible, which makes them a good substitute for copper pipes.
- Copper – Copper pipes can be used for both hot and cold water. They can fit into narrow spaces, and they’re corrosion and bacteria-resistant. They have lifespans of up to 50 years. However, they are one of the more expensive types of piping materials, especially when you compare the cost of copper to PVC or PEX.
- Cast Iron – Cast iron pipes are an older material. It was primarily used for drain lines and sewer pipes in homes and businesses that were built before 1970. this means that if you own an older building, you may still have a cast iron sewer pipe.
- Galvanized Steel – Galvanized steel was extremely popular in the 1960s and touted as a cheaper, copper alternative. However, it quickly gained a reputation for being susceptible to corrosion. Therefore, it’s no longer the go-to choice.
- Ductile Iron – Ductile iron is most commonly found in municipal water systems. It’s known for being durable, long-lived and strong.
- Concrete – Concrete pipes are most often used for stormwater systems, culverts, irrigation and drainage.
- Clay – Clay pipes aren’t as common as some of the other types of plumbing pipes. However, they can still be found in municipal sewer systems. To improve their longevity, they’re most often encased in concrete.
- Fiberglass Pipes – Fiberglass pipes are constructed out of a type of composite. It’s commonly found in sewer systems and in systems that come into contact with seawater. It has an expected useful life of 30 years and is known for its corrosion resistance.
What Are the Benefits of Lining Residential Pipes with Epoxy?
If you own a residential building, whether it’s your own home or a multi-unit property, you can benefit from installing epoxy pipeliners. Epoxy pipeliners and coatings can help extend the useful lives of your existing plumbing pipes by plugging pinhole leaks, creating a smooth interior surface, and preventing future corrosion. It’s also a fast process. In our experience, most jobs can be completed within 48 to 72 hours, and if we’re performing a large job, each lined run of pipe is put back into service before we move to the next pipe. Of course, you may still have questions about the cost of epoxy pipe liners. The truth is that once you factor in all of the costs associated with repiping your home, like cleanup and drywall, flooring, or property repair, epoxy pipeliners are often cheaper, and they tend to last just as long as new plumbing pipes.
What Are the Benefits of Lining Commercial Buildings with Epoxy?
If you’re thinking about lining the plumbing pipes in your commercial building, you’ll be pleased to know that in addition to the benefits listed for residential properties, epoxy pipeliners are extremely resistant to a wide range of chemicals. Epoxy pipeliners are non-toxic and safe for use in potable water and food systems. It’s even environmentally friendly, and it has a lower carbon footprint than pipe replacement because new materials are not created and very little is sent to a landfill.
Not to mention, when you choose epoxy pipe lining over a traditional pipe replacement, you’ll experience reduced downtime and disruption for your business. This is because, at NuFlow, we can schedule your pipe lining after hours, and once we leave for the night, you’ll still have mixed water in the morning. You’ll also enjoy a lower price point for epoxy pipe lining than you would for a full pipe replacement when all costs are taken into consideration, and it’s non-invasive.
In fact, if you’re worried about your floors, ceilings, and walls being damaged, you can rest easy. Epoxy pipeliners and coatings are installed using existing cleanouts and access points. If there isn’t a cleanout or access point available, we’ll install one and cover it with a door. Epoxy pipeliners are also compliant with all the commercial standards for buildings, and they are easy to clean. You’ll just need to have them hydrojetted periodically in order to remove any debris that might accumulate in the pipe.
How Do I Know If I’d Benefit from Epoxy Pipe Lining?
If you have plumbing pipes in your commercial or residential building, there’s a good chance that you’d benefit from having your pipes lined with epoxy. NuFlow offers several different ways to line your pipes. Drain pipes and sewer pipes can be lined with felt pipeliners. Pipes with small diameters, like potable water lines, can be lined with epoxy coatings, and we have two methods for installing epoxy coatings, including the brush-cast method and the blow-in method.
The brush-cast method utilizes brushes that precisely apply the epoxy to the interior walls of the pipe. With this method, the epoxy is applied in layers until it reaches the desired thickness. The blow-in method utilizes compressed air to blow the viscous epoxy through the pipe. This method isn’t as precise, but it still results in a durable epoxy coating. This is because the epoxy rolls over itself as it goes through your plumbing pipe. This helps seal small holes and cracks while ensuring that the host pipe doesn’t further deteriorate due to corrosion, and once the epoxy is installed, you can expect it to last between 35 and 50 years.
How Do I Contact NuFlow to Learn More About Epoxy Pipe Lining?
If you’re interested in having your plumbing pipes lined with epoxy in order to stop leaks and extend the useful lives of your pipes without tearing large holes in your walls or digging trenches in your property, epoxy pipe lining may be for you. To learn more about epoxy pipelining, you can reach out to us. We’d love to discuss your plumbing pipes with you.
If you’d like us to assess the condition of your plumbing pipes, you can schedule a building pipe assessment. These assessments are designed to provide you with information about your plumbing pipes, such as their conditions and how much life is left in them. In fact, we’ll provide you with a detailed report that explains what we found and an estimate for pipe lining. The estimates are particularly useful if you have to present the information to the building owner, board, or HOA.