Ask a Plumber.

wow thats crazy.. we stopped using it in the mid 80's

 

Huh

Why

 

Heeeeeerrre's Scotty

 

I wonder who pays for that .

Lol

 

+1 for the OP for trying to assist fellow TW members.

 

HA! Chris to the rescue!

another +1

 

Back on topic -
OP, any experience with the newer "Heat Pump" hot water heaters? Just curious if you think they are worth the investment?

Example:

 

Answer my question about why you guys don't use ABS anymore

 

In my area we use ABS for irrigation drainage, but that's about it...

I'm not an expert. I can sweat a copper fitting but that's the extent of my plumbing skills.

 

They work well in warm climates where the ground water temperature is warm. Cause they only have a 60-70 degree rise of heating water. But colder climates the water can be 36-34 going in. 34+60-70= 94-104. Not to hot for a shower. But you can cut the flow down thru the unit to heat the water a little more, but then water pressure is cut down. or bigger houses with the kitchen and 3-4 bathrooms they won't be able to keep up. you can put them
In series but that starts getting expensive.

 

Yeah we use ABS and copper around here to. Curious why in the 80s they stopped ABS where you are? Old houses around have the galvanized. Sucks cause you have to take it all apart can't cut and sweat that shit. Newer houses are all copper and hardly to a few pex plastic lines.

 

I replaced about 40 feet of old galvanized supply line with 3/4" copper in an old farm house. That shit was so gummed up with crap inside it was only about 1/4" diameter for the flow... that was a bitch of a job in a 3' high crawlspace...
This was back in my handyman days...

 

Granted they only use power and gas when there's a call for hot water they still need electricity. Power gos out, no hot water. Regular gas tank WHs don't need electricity to have hot water all the time.

But since your in FL I'd say you'd be a prime candidate for one.

 

Isn't it a carcinogen?

 

Yeah galvey clogs up pretty bad over the years. I took apart this 3inch galvinized waste line that was 60+ years old and it was down to about an inch or less. Some of the crawl spaces around here are terrible. Least this one was poured slab and not dust. this was just about a week ago broken pipe under this old shitty cabin.

 

I just experienced a flashback and full body shudder....
I'm sorry but I'm glad I don't do that anymore. I spent about 8 solid hours under that house...

 

Yeah it's not to bad of a gig. My dad owns a small plumbing and heating business up here just me and him. But its nice everyone wants to be warm and take a hot shower. So I'm always busy which is nice. Year round work I can sure dig.

 

So is fibreglass , we still use that ,.

Also , I'm not sure about your habits , but I usually don't drink from the waste pipe .

 

PS , you're about to get electrocuted