Should galvanized pipe be removed from system?

adamfre

Good evening all,
I have galvanized pipe and fittings scattered here and there in my system. I will be doing a lot of pipe replacement in the next few months due to rust, should I take the opportunity to also replace the galvanized pipe and fittings as I come across them?

Jamie Hall

This is a steam system? Where is the galvanized? Mains, runouts, returns? And what pipes are being changed out due to rust?

adamfre

Yes, its a steam system. Galvanized is on both the steam and return sides, also some runouts. Pipes being changed out returns (wet).

Jamie Hall

Well, galvanized has a way of getting remarkably cruddy inside, particularly when it is kept wet. So... I'd probably replace all the returns. Anything below the water line of the boiler can be copper, if you like; anything above, threaded black iron, please. As to the mains and runouts -- they may not be too bad. If they are easy enough to replace I'd probably do it -- again, black iron. If not... Whatever you do, make sure that you use the same nominal pipe size or larger, and be absolutely sure that you get all the pitches correct.

ChrisJ

Jamie Hall said:

Well, galvanized has a way of getting remarkably cruddy inside, particularly when it is kept wet. So... I'd probably replace all the returns. Anything below the water line of the boiler can be copper, if you like; anything above, threaded black iron, please. As to the mains and runouts -- they may not be too bad. If they are easy enough to replace I'd probably do it -- again, black iron. If not... Whatever you do, make sure that you use the same nominal pipe size or larger, and be absolutely sure that you get all the pitches correct.

Jamie,

Galvanized get's more cruddy inside than black iron when kept wet?

Jamie Hall

ChrisJ said:

Jamie Hall said:

Well, galvanized has a way of getting remarkably cruddy inside, particularly when it is kept wet. So... I'd probably replace all the returns. Anything below the water line of the boiler can be copper, if you like; anything above, threaded black iron, please. As to the mains and runouts -- they may not be too bad. If they are easy enough to replace I'd probably do it -- again, black iron. If not... Whatever you do, make sure that you use the same nominal pipe size or larger, and be absolutely sure that you get all the pitches correct.

Jamie,

Galvanized get's more cruddy inside than black iron when kept wet?

Let's just say... differently. But in my opinion it does, and I think that it is because it is steel, which rusts much more quickly than black iron, and if there are holes in the galvanizing it will concentrate the effect. But I could be wrong...