How To Know What YOUR PROPERTY'S Water Line Pipe Materials Are - Prevent Mistakes!

Want to know what your property water line material is made of? When it involves water service lines 2" or smaller, water line pipe materials are limited to copper, lead, and galvanized pipe. Watch this quick video guide to get a good understanding of water line materials.

Dave Balkan, owner of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service, demonstrates how to easily identify your water line material and determine its age. This expert guide covers the three main water service line materials found in NYC properties and explains why proper identification is crucial for maintenance decisions.

Water Line Materials Covered
Copper Water Lines:

Distinctive orange/copper color, revealed when scraped with a coin if discolored
Connected with flare fittings to brass components
Used exclusively in NYC for 50-60 years
Replacement recommended when approaching 50 years old

Lead Water Service Lines:

Dull silver appearance, becomes shiny when scraped
Very malleable material
Features unique "wiped joints" with white molten lead connections
Installation discontinued 70+ years ago
Important: Lead line repairs are illegal in NYC

Galvanized Water Pipes:

Silver when new, heavily corroded when exposed to moisture
Only magnetic water line material - use magnet test for identification
Shows severe interior and exterior corrosion over time
Cannot be legally repaired in most jurisdictions

Key Takeaways:

-Use DEP records to determine exact installation dates
-Lines approaching 50+ years require replacement, not repair
-Lead and galvanized line repairs are prohibited by law
-Professional identification ensures code compliance

For expert water line identification, replacement, and installation services in New York City, contact Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service.

Related Services:

Water line material identification
Copper water line installation
Lead water service replacement
Galvanized pipe replacement
NYC water service upgrades
Emergency water line services

Resources:

https://www.balkanplumbing.com/types-...
https://www.balkanplumbing.com/water-...
https://www.balkanplumbing.com/nyc-wa...

The Balkan YouTube channel is devoted to answering your questions and informing you. We want to alleviate any stressful and confusing plumbing issues you may have. As a matter of fact, we welcome your input on new topics we may not have presently covered.

We also want to make you a smarter consumer. Our ultimate goal is to enable you to make better hiring decisions when it involves plumbing. Knowledge is power, and knowledge will make you a smarter consumer. If we've been successful at that, and helped you in some way please like our video, and of course please hit the subscribe button!

If you seek expert service or advice for any sewer, water main, or drain issue, Balkan offers free on-site visits, and a guaranteed response time of four hours or less throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Nassau County. Call us at 718-849-0900, or email [email protected]. We will cater our service to your needs 7 days a week, and after hours as well. Exceeding your expectations is our number one goal.

Balkan Sewer And Water Main Service was founded in 1952. Since its inception, the foundation of the company has been based on integrity and honesty in all of our dealings. That solid foundation has enabled us to thrive in every economic climate. The year 2022 actually marked our 70th consecutive year in business.

As we have grown, we have become increasingly dependent upon a "Team First" approach. What helps ensure a continuation of our high standards, overall integrity, and high company morale, is that same "Team First" approach. Complete client satisfaction has always been the number one goal at Balkan Sewer And Water Main.

Our devotion to your service and to our Team's success is why we are NYC's largest and most trusted house sewer and water main service. Simply put, if it's plumbing, and it's underground, we do it. For over 70 years and with over 100,000 satisfied customers to date, Balkan has been "The Team You Trust".

Balkan Sewer And Water Main
NYC's Largest And Most Trusted Service
[email protected]
718-849-0900
https://www.balkanplumbing.com/
130-01 Jamaica Avenue
Queens, NY 11418
00:00 An introduction to the 3 types of water line materials
00:13 Explaining copper water tubing
00:33 Explaining how K copper is connected
00:47 How long has copper has been used for water service lines
01:13 Explaining lead water service lines
01:33 How to determine if a line is lead
01:50 How lead lines were connected to brass pipe
02:22 Explaining galvanized pipe
02:50 How to test if a pipe is galvanized