Leaks and types of plastic pipes sold in Canberra – Because copper pipes are so expensive most homes renovated or built in Australia since 1988 will have plastic water pipes installed in the walls ceilings, under floors and in there yards and gardens. There are numerous causes of water leaks in these plastic pipes.
9 Common causes of leaks in plastic water pipes
There are 9 common causes of leaks in plastic water pipes. Most of the leaks in Canberra’s plastic pipes occur for the same reasons. For example:
Abrasion of pipe walls – Abrasion is the most common cause of all water leaks in Canberra and Queanbeyan and the rest of the world. Plastic pipes are flexible, and they expand and contract at a higher rate than most metal pipes. This constant back and forth movement can eventually cause the wall of the pipe to become thinner if that pipe is resting against a sharp or slightly rough hard surface.
Nails driven into pipes– Nails are a common cause of leaks in pipes and leaks may not appear for years after the nail has penetrated the pipe. This is because the pipe will squeeze itself around a new nail causing a perfect seal. It is only after the nail rusts away does the pipe begin to leak.
Pipe cracks from loss of complex chemical bonds – Plastic pipes are manufactured from various resins and polymers. When manufactured these pipes are tested to very high pressures and extreme temperatures. It has been found that the chemical bonds that hold the resins and polymers together can weaken. The result is the pipe will tear open either around the circumference or along the length of the pipe. This may occur at low pressures and moderate temperatures.
Stressing of pipes and fittings– Plastic pipes and fittings are flexible to a degree. However, if stressed they will eventually tear in the pipe itself or at moulded seams and other weak points in the fittings.
O-Rings leaks– O-rings are soft synthetic seals that can become hard and inflexible or soft and reactive. This combined with high water pressure and expansion and contraction eventually leads to water leaks through the O-ring joint.
Corrosion of crimped rings – Soils can electrochemically react with different metal crimp rings causing corrosion. The crimp rings squeeze the pipe onto barbed spigots in the fittings, holding the pipe and fitting together. Once the crimp ring has corroded the joint has no strength and pushes apart.
Incorrect crimping techniques– The crimped meta rings squeeze the pipe onto barbed spigots in the fittings, holding the pipe and fitting together. All crimped fittings use different types of crimpers. Incorrect crimping techniques and using the wrong crimpers will eventually cause the joint to lose its strength and the joint may push apart. Uncrimped joints may hold together for days or months.
Pipes not being pushed into fittings properly– All plastic pipe joints require pressure against numerous internal or external barbs. Some pipe brands seal on the barbs and others use barbs to hold the pipe in a joint sealed with an O-ring. If a pipe is not pushed all of the way into a fitting the pipe will only engage on a small number of barbes. Therefore the joint is week and will eventually push apart or leak.
Vermin Attacks – Vermin attacks are likely to occur when rat poison or similar has been used, as it makes the vermin thirsty and they can easily chew through plastic water supply lines.
Brands of plastic pipes in Canberra and common causes of leaks in them.
There are numerous brands of plastic pipes in Canberra and common causes of leaks in them. Each brand has their own specific common problems that result in pipe or fitting leaks. The majority of leaks could have been avoided with more care taken during the installation process. Some like vermin attacks can be avoided by putting a bowl of water out near and whenever poisons like Ratsak are used.
Below is a list of plastic pipe brands and common causes of leaks in them.
Plasson – Blue Line – Philmac plastic pipe
- Vermin.
- Older push fit elbows have a habit of cracking
- Pipe not being fully seated inside fitting
- Too much pressure on pipes bending at the joint
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
- Male and female adaptors to threaded joints are harder to seal.
- Female threaded adaptors can split from internal pressure.
Rehau plastic pipe
- Vermin
- Metal crimp reacting with soil minerals in old versions
- Pipe not being fully seated inside fitting
- Not properly crimped at the joints
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
Auspex plastic pipe
- Vermin
- Copper crimp reacting with soil minerals
- Pipe not being fully seated inside fitting
- Too much pressure on pipes bending at the joint
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
Buteline Polybutylene plastic pipe
- Vermin
- Metal reacting with soil minerals
- Pipe not being fully seated inside fitting
- Too much pressure on pipes bending at the joint
- Pipe cracking due to manufacture material
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
DuoPEX plastic pipe
- Vermin
- Metal reacting with soil minerals
- Pipe not being fully seated inside fitting
- Too much pressure on pipes bending at the joint
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
- Reacts with bitumen and grease
EvoPEX plastic pipe
- Vermin
- Metal reacting with soil minerals
- Pipe not being fully seated inside fitting
- Too much pressure on pipes bending at the joint
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
EZIPEX plastic pipe
- Vermin
- Metal reacting with soil minerals
- Pipe not being fully seated inside fitting
- Too much pressure on pipes bending at the joint
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
Sharkbite plastic pipe
- Vermin
- Metal reacting with soil minerals
- Pipe not being fully seated inside fitting
- Too much pressure on pipes bending at the joint
- Joints are easy to uncouple
- O-rings deteriorate
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
Hep2o plastic pipe
- Vermin
- Too much pressure on joints
- Joints not being tightened properly
- Joints are easy to uncouple
- Nails through pipes from fixing wall linings
- Abrasions after rubbing on rough and sharp surfaces.
Finding leaks in Plastic pipes
Finding the leaks in plastic pipes that are not visible is very hard. If you do not know where the pipe is it is hard to know where to start looking for the leak. While repairing leaks in most brands of plastic pipes can be easy it is always harder to locate plastic pipes as they are nonconductive and can not be traced with a pipe locating system that uses a transmitter and receiver.
Finding leaks in plastic pipes relies on the experience of the technician as much as it does technology.
With the growing number of plastic pipe leaks in Canberra homeowners should be aware of the causes of the various causes of leaks and types of plastic pipes sold in Canberra.
We can help find and fix leaks in Plastic pipes