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The Orangeburg Pipe Problem in Phoenix

If you live in an older home in the Phoenix area and haven’t had your pipes replaced in recent decades, you may be relying on Orangeburg piping. This type of pipe material was commonly used in home construction from 1945 to 1972 and can be extremely problematic for your water quality and your home’s overall plumbing performance.

At Penguin Air, Plumbing & Electrical, our team specializes in identifying and replacing failing Orangeburg pipes in Phoenix homes. Read on to discover what Orangeburg pipes are, the warning signs of a failed system, and how you can resolve the Orangeburg pipe problem in your home!

What Are Orangeburg Pipes?

Orangeburg pipes are also referred to as “no-corrode” pipes and were made popular after iron and steel shortages during World War II forced plumbers to seek affordable alternatives.

Originally expected to last 50 years, many systems began to fail after just 30 years of use, mostly due to structural complications due to the materials used in the manufacturing process.

Orangeburg pipes are pipes created from paper and wood pulp with an inner tar coating. The combined pressure from water within the pipe and soil above it makes these systems particularly susceptible to corrosion and collapse.

This is why it’s necessary to swap out old Orangeburg pipes with updated piping materials.

Signs You Have Failing Orangeburg Pipes

If you’ve recently purchased an older home or are unaware of your home’s piping history, there are some signs you can watch out for that indicate you may have a failing Orangeburg system. These include:

• Slow-moving drains
• Sewage backup in showers and other household drains
• Sewage odors inside the home
• Mold and mildew growth or odors
• Unusually lush sections of your lawn
• Indentations in the lawn
• Sinkholes in the foundation

What To Do About Orangeburg Pipes?

There are several steps you can take to ensure your Orangeburg pipes don’t lead to catastrophic damage to your property, including:

Plumbing Inspection

One of the quickest ways to determine if Orangeburg pipes are at the heart of your plumbing problems is by scheduling a professional inspection.

Your plumber will use sophisticated tools, such as video camera pipe inspection technology, to determine what type of pipes you have.

Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement

If your piping system remains largely intact, you could be a candidate for trenchless sewer line replacement.

This minimally invasive pipe replacement method allows plumbers to replace your sewer line by creating holes on either end of the pipe. It’s important to note that this is only an option if the system has not yet collapsed.

Sewer Line Replacement

Traditional sewer line replacement is the best option when the Orangeburg pipes have completely collapsed or broken in multiple places.

This project involves digging trenches around your piping to excavate the damaged material.

Be sure that the plumbing team you select has experience performing sewer line replacements on Orangeburg piping systems.

Orangeburg Pipe Replacement in Phoenix, AZ

At Penguin Air, Plumbing & Electrical, our team has helped many Phoenix families replace their Orangeburg piping systems.

We specialize in providing efficient sewer line repair and replacement solutions best suited for your specific situation, considering your piping location, age, material, and condition.

When you need help replacing the Orangeburg piping system in your home, turn to Penguin to get the job done right.

Call us at (480) 747-6800 to request sewer line replacement in Phoenix today!