Plumbing reno question

For the plumbing experts out there — i’m about to embark on a reno that will call for new plumbing throughout a 4-floor brownstone.   The existing plumbing has ‘evolved’ over the years and is now so crappy that even an idiot like me knows it should be totally redone.  However, much or all of the original primary risers (which remain in the same location) are currently piped in solid, threaded brass piping.  I’m told this is good stuff, worth saving and certainly has value.  so my questions are  (a)  is this true?  is threaded brass something better than brazed copper?  (b) could/should i make noises to my GC about keeping & reusing these risers wherever possible?   (c) if an all-new copper piping is the what my GC (or common wisdom) prefer to go with, then is this brass valuable enough for me to rescue from the demolition & resell?

deano

in Plumbers and Plumbing 13 years and 3 months ago

5

Please log in, in order to post replies!

5 replies

Newest Oldest

BHS | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4848 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4859 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "11181"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(3) "BHS"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(3) "bhs"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "smythraina@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(18) "/forums/users/bhs/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:14:48"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(3) "BHS"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(11181)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I’ve heard it’s often the joints that fail not the pipe, so you might have a problem even if the pipe runs have more useful life. Also, the joy in replacing your plumbing is that it’s all new and shouldn’t leak for a long long time. If you do it piecemeal, you don’t have that piece of mind. Also, my electricians wouldn’t let me use any old switches even if they were still in good working condition because they didn’t want to be responsible for any unforseen and complicated to diagnose issues. I’d expect plumbers would have similar thinking–would they be willing to back the whole system knowing there were old components in there. If a leak started after the walls were closed you wouldn’t know if it was new or old plumbing that had caused it and whether the plumber should fix it for free.

brucef | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4849 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4850 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "4724"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BBW3UzNM8B1w6uproJMdiiw1vnHriz1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "bruce@jerseydata.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/brucef/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:13:36"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(4724)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I recently removed a section of brass and got $107.00 next to Dykes. I went with copper because the skill set to repair brass is fading away. 30 years ago it was the standard, but now the new techs just don’t know it.

nintzk | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4853 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4847 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "178934"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "nintzk"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BUfz7HeZ8wh2u8cbfqG4t5t0Q7xX8J1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "nintzk"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(15) "melnitzk@yu.edu"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/nintzk/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:37:09"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "shWhXZlPLFKpPADXeptX"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "nintzk"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(178934)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I’m no plumbing expert, but if they arent leaking why replace them?

jockdeboeraia | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4848 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4846 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "40876"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BTfkV3DGGseot8oNyuG6kVhsNhUD2n1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "jdeboer@jockdeboer.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(31) "/forums/users/deboerarchitects/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:15:51"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "VK4zWrfWbTPHLfSSlGZI"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(40876)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If it is a place you are going to stay if for awhile, rip it out.

steam_man | 13 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4849 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4845 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176846"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "steam_man"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BwTjqVdzbefHKag0RU5TXaF7tQCivs."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "steam_man"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(25) "heat@moltenmechanical.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(31) "http:///forums/users/steam_man/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:50"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "steam_man"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176846)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

You know what it’s worth? It’s worth about $3/lb at the scrap yard. Run new copper and buy the construction crew lunch for a few days with the mongo.