Pipe lifetime

JuliaV

Hey all

What's the lifetime on steam piping? Cast iron. Just curious as to the shelf life on these things.

ChrisJ

Shelf life?
Forever as long as it's a fairly dry environment.

Jamie Hall

There are many steam systems in operation with cast iron pipe over 100 years old. There are water supply systems in some of our eastern cities with buried cast iron pipe which are older than that. They're working fine.

On the shelf? More or less dry? As Chris says -- forever, or at the very least a few millenia.

JUGHNE

I have one church that has a cornerstone from 1911, original radiators and steam piping. A school from about 1919 or so. No problems with either. Maybe a threaded fitting might drip if pressure is run too high, but pipe itself fared well.

This is piping above the water line.......however wet returns and wet returns buried below the floor are not so lucky. Always questionable below grade.

JuliaV

Have a small slow leak on a threaded elbow fitting. Was just wondering if it meant anything less favorable for the rest of the piping! Guess I should be good : )

Fred

My piping is 113 years old. I had a gasket in a flange joint leak a couple years ago. When I replaced it, I was amazed at how clean and good the inside of those pipes look. I did have a small section of wet return leak about 10 years ago and had to replace that section.

ChrisJ

JuliaV said:

Have a small slow leak on a threaded elbow fitting. Was just wondering if it meant anything less favorable for the rest of the piping! Guess I should be good : )

Yeah, I'd consider that a rare fluke. Have it fixed and assume the rest of the system is fine.

JUGHNE

Is that above or below the water line?

JuliaV

Above. I can post a pic later when I get home