In the rest of the civilized world we've been using lead-free solder since
the last century!

On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 10:19 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:

> ---- Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> > Lessons on copper:
> > Every house on my street has been re-piped because of slab leaks.  Here
> in northeast Florida homes are built on a concrete slab, >not a masonry
> foundation.  And much of the plumbing, specifically copper piping, was
> imbedded in the slab.  Over time, because of >the very hard water here, the
> copper pipes sprang pin-hole leaks, causing water to leak through the slab
> into the home.
>
> Same thing in far S. Texas's Rio Grande Valley, where I used to live.
>  Except there, the piping is in the attic, under a thin layer of insulation
> for most tract homes.  A plumber told me that the copper piping used by El
> Valle builders is "thin walled copper", and suggested that I use "thick
> walled copper" for replacement.  I did, after checking and sourcing it
> myself (why am I cynical enough to think I might pay a plumber for better
> quality stuff than I get?).  Newer homes have pvc.  Jury still out on that
> regarding toxicity, but then most copper is made up with lead solder.
>  That's no problem here, with our hard water, but in soft water (low pH
> usually) water, lead leaching is a problem and is a major source of lead in
> people.
>
> Here most houses older than about 15 years are on concrete footings with
> pier and beam foundations.  If your house is on a hillside, it is almost as
> good as having a basement under, in terms of space down there.
>
> But so far as the radiators are concerned, I do use distilled water.  Why
> use mineralized water when distilled is so cheap?
>
> David McNeely
>

--
Jake

1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"

Crescent Beach, BC

www.thebassspa.com
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