Question here.
I saw the plumbing works today at my house.
The plumber was installing all the fittings joint from the concealed pipes to the mixers and was having a hard time getting the fittings right without leaks.

Is it really that difficult ?

If the mixer distance is align properly should not be hard. What is the conceal connector made of? PVC or metal like copper / s.steel?

S/Steel ... see the plumber having a hard time getting the screw on correct = leak free. they spend quite some time on every fitting with tape and "glue".

Why need glue, later when change is not easy.

dunno lah,

Not just align and distance, sometimes it is not 90 degree to the wall.

crazy to use glue/silicone. The water pressure will brust it. The way to overcome it is to have soft thick or multiple o ring/rubber. Good fiting need no tape.

Hi, my new house is around 30 years too. Need to change the whole piping and wiring system. Any good contact that forumers can recommend? Thanks in advance.

You own the house for 30 yrs or you just bought the house? 30 yrs ago it is sure GI pipes and might had leak or blocked already and the previous owner might have changed it already. To know if it is GI is easy, take a look at the fitings joints take it out and if it rust it is GI. If it is not GI the previous owner might have changed it. Call him. That one phone call can save you money.

Sometimes the pipe might not be GI but the joints are and it rust. Go round the house to see any exposed pipe otherwise do a little hacking on the wall where there is no tiles is preferred. That little hacking discovery can save you a lot of money. Instead of changing the whole piping just change the joints at the fitings.

Dear stevie8, I just bought the house. Previously house was rented, I just inspected the property yesterday, there are signs of water leaking from 1st floor bathroom and also from top.

Yeah, will give a call to the owner to check whether GI pipes or not. Dont think I can do that little hacking, same with my hubby as he's not willing to do this kind of work.

Just concern on the hygiene if it is GI pipes and I am only changing the joints, is there any issues?

There is no harm consuming water from GI pipe and is nothing dirty drinking some iron rust and dirt. If you want good water it is advisable to have water filter. Good water filter come with carbon filter that absorbs harmful chemicals especially chlorine and chromine that is present in our water from our water work to kill bacteria but it was said to cause cancer especially so when you boiled it. One other way is to use RO together with carbon filter. RO filtered all dirt, micro organism including viruses and you get 99% pure water, the carbon will remove all the little chlorine that RO filter cannot removed. After said it all, what do we drink at mamak store or restorant made drinks? Do they use good water filtration system?

A good water filter system in US requires you to have carbon filter, RO (filter at 0.0001 micron) or at least Ultra filter (0.1 micron) and a UV. RO or ultra filter removed dirt and micro organism, carbon absorbs chemical and UV kill virus and bacteria and any micro organism in the tank after it has been filtered. Microorganism can be introduced into the filter tank and water dispenser tubes/tapes. If you dont have UV just let the water run for few seconds to the drain is good enough otherwise boil it.

The reason for replacing GI pipe is becasue sooner or later the joints will rust and leak. When it leaks it cost you hell for replaceing the pipes and joints as all these pipes are mostly in the wall and floor. It is advisable to replace when you reno your house. The choice is poly pipe as it is one long distance without joints. the poly joints must not be under the floor as it can get lossen and leak. it should be joint with other fiting that is leak proof and lasts like stainless steel, brass, PVC or ABS. Poly to poly joints have to be somewhere exposed so that you can re-tighten it especially a tight 90 degree bend up to the roof for example that a curve bend with no joints is not possible.

The reason for hacking and checking is if your pipe is poly/PVC (other than GI) pipe and the joints are GI. Even if the outlet joints are GI it does not matter much. When it gets clogged (GI pipes usually does, others known pipe in the market will not) because of rust that the water pressure is not as high as it is from the main supply, one easy way is to apply high water pressure and push out all the rust inside the pipe/joints. Use pump.

The reason suggest you to change the joints is because the water outlet maybe at the tiles and when the joints leak you have no other choice but to hack the tiles and you will ended up with one piece odd tile. Still it is not too much of a problem you can stick a picture or decorate something so that it look nice and not so obvious. I have some drilled holes on my tiles, I just put a nice sticker covering it like picture of flower. you can use cartoon charactor for children room and at anytime you can change the sticker with any other pictures.

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Added on February 6, 2012, 12:57 amBy the way, a good water filtration is no filtration when you do not maintain and change its filters and replacing its UV bulbs. All these have life span.

This post has been edited by stevie8: Feb 6 2012, 01:03 AM

what a last day "Chap Goh Meh" with big issue as seem like my master bathroom either piping internal leaking or due to water snap in from tiles sd kids playing water inside

Now the water mark showing our from the wall..need off the stockcocki for few days to see whether the water mark gone away or not before call the plumber...

Dear stevie8, wow what a lengthy and informative explanation that u give. Understood and really appreciate it. Now I know where to go from here. Thanks a lot.

Hello all, just been quoted by my contractor for piping...my house is a 2 storey terrace with 3 bath rooms...below is the quote :

1) Piping from Main pipe to Tangki and Kitchen : RM2,800

2) All Pipings and installation of any toiletries (eg toilet, sink buy myself but he installs, basically anything to do with toilet) RM : 6,000 for 3 Toilets

3) Water Pump Installation + Supply and install New Tangki (rubberish) : RM1,800

4) Hot Water Piping from Roof (Solar Heater) to all 3 toilets : RM1,600

----------------------------
Note:
- He will use I think Class 7 Pipes (cant remember which class exactly will show me before doing anything)

Regardless Whatever I buy for Toilet, he will install at no additional charge.


Is it reasonable?

Oh man..didnt know re piping is so expensive

This post has been edited by coconutzz: Feb 11 2012, 07:09 PM

pipes are quite cheap/reasonable..

its the workmanship/labor and skills that cost alot

The water heater plumbing is cheap. Mine I pay 800 per toilet, for ground floor more expensive.

Cos I asked him to connect the hot water piping to showers only in the toilet..I don't need it on the tap or kitchen...maybe because of that?

Mine also same, if use tap you need to pay much more for taps.

Make sure they give stainless steel angle on the wall.

My entire piping include relocating wc and rain piping about 11k.

Aiks...11k is ok bro...

mine also 11.8k ...he discounted from 12.2k...
...he said everything in...no extra charges anymore.....maybe material price gone up.. (i m just trying to convince myself...sighzz)

Does your include installation of the accessories and toilet ?

This post has been edited by coconutzz: Feb 11 2012, 08:21 PM

Yup including other works too.

Wei kee, just reconfirmed with my plumber..he will use PVC Class 7 for Cold water piping and of course Copper for Hot water..

everything done..including sewerage piping..he said "do everything until Sau Kong"

Means he pau all NEW PIPING from Main Pipe onwards including installing watever piping related stuffs like taps, shower, etc etc....

Sounds good?

This post has been edited by coconutzz: Feb 12 2012, 04:17 PM