lead pipes in chicago Archives

If you’re relocating to an older Chicago home, the charm and historic appeal are likely major attractions. Yet, along with beautiful architecture and established neighborhoods, many older homes in Chicago come with aging infrastructure, including plumbing that may contain lead. This can pose health risks for residents, especially families with children.

Before moving in, consider having the plumbing system tested for lead to ensure the safety of your drinking water. Here’s a guide to help you understand the risks of lead pipes, how to test for them, and what to do if your new home has them.

Choosing a Trustworthy Moving Company for a Safe and Smooth Transition

First off, when moving into an older home in Chicago, working with a professional moving company can streamline the process, especially if you’re coordinating plumbing inspections or pipe replacement. Golans Moving and Storage Chicago understands the unique needs of relocating within the city. They can help ensure a smooth, efficient move while you focus on settling into your new home safely. Their expertise in Chicago neighborhoods allows them to handle the logistics of moving to older properties, saving you time and stress.

Why Older Chicago Homes Might Have Lead Pipes

Lead pipes were once the standard for residential plumbing because of lead’s durability and malleability. Like many U.S. cities, Chicago utilized lead pipes extensively before the dangers of lead exposure were fully understood. In 1986, amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act officially banned the use of lead pipes in plumbing, but many homes built before this date still have lead components in their plumbing systems.

Given that Chicago has one of the oldest water infrastructures in the country, relocating to an older Chicago home makes it likely that the property has lead pipes. Understanding these risks before moving in can help new homeowners make informed decisions about their health and home improvements.

Finding Local Support for Lead Testing and Safe Moving Practices

For those moving from nearby suburbs like Lincolnwood, Illinois, where homes are generally newer and less likely to have lead pipes, it’s easy to overlook this potential issue when relocating to an older Chicago home. However, moving experts in Lincolnwood are well-acquainted with the unique challenges of Chicago’s historic properties.

Furthermore, they might even have a recommendation as to where you can start looking for local resources to help you with lead pipes. By working with experts familiar with the Chicago area, new homeowners can access valuable resources for safe lead testing and mitigation before fully settling into their homes.

Health Risks Associated with Lead in Drinking Water

Finding the right support is crucial, especially because exposure to lead from drinking water poses health risks particularly concerning for children and pregnant women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that lead exposure can affect almost every organ and system in the body, with the nervous system being especially vulnerable.

In children, lead exposure can result in developmental delays, behavioral issues, and learning disabilities. Even low levels of lead exposure can have long-term health consequences. For adults, risks include high blood pressure, kidney damage, and reproductive issues.

The unique problem with lead pipes is that lead can leach into water, especially if the water is acidic or if pipes are corroding. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established that there is no safe level of lead exposure, making it critical for those relocating to an older Chicago home to test their water and plumbing systems.

Signs Your Older Chicago Home Might Have Lead Pipes

Knowing the construction year of your home is the first indicator of potential lead plumbing. If your home was built before 1986 in Chicago, assuming it could contain lead pipes or lead soldering in the plumbing system is advisable. Some physical characteristics can help identify lead pipes:

Soft Metal: Lead is a soft metal, and you can often scratch it easily with a screwdriver or other sharp object
Grayish Color: Lead pipes tend to have a dull gray color, and they will not be magnetic
Bulbous Joints: Lead pipes often have bulbous or swollen joints due to how the lead was molded during installation

If you’re unsure how to identify lead pipes or suspect that your plumbing may contain lead but cannot confirm this, it’s best to consult a professional plumber or testing service.

How to Test for Lead in Your Home’s Water and Plumbing System

Several methods can be used to test for lead in an older Chicago home. Some homeowners choose to start with at-home lead testing kits, while others prefer hiring a professional for more accurate results.

At-Home Lead Testing Kits

These are available at most hardware stores and are relatively easy to use. Generally, you’ll collect water samples from various points in your home and send them to a lab for analysis. These kits may not be as comprehensive as professional testing, but they can give you an initial idea of whether lead is present.

Professional Water Testing Services

Professional testing services are more precise and can measure even low lead levels in your water. Many professional services will also test multiple points in your home to determine if lead comes from the main pipes or fixtures within the home. In Chicago, certified water testing companies are familiar with the city’s aging infrastructure.

City-Provided Lead Testing

Chicago offers free home lead testing kits, which you can request through the Chicago Department of Water Management. The department also provides additional resources and guidance on reducing lead exposure.

What to Do if Your Chicago Home Has Lead Pipes

Discovering lead pipes in an older Chicago home can be concerning, but there are several ways to address the issue and reduce exposure risks.

Consider Pipe Replacement

Replacing lead pipes entirely is the most effective way to eliminate the risk of lead exposure. Although this can be costly, some homeowners find the long-term health and safety benefits worthwhile. In Chicago, programs are available to help eligible residents reduce the cost of replacing lead service lines.

Install a Filtration System

Certified water filters can remove lead and other contaminants from drinking water. Look for filters certified by NSF International to effectively remove lead, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing filters regularly.

Flush Your Pipes

If full pipe replacement or filtration isn’t an immediate option, flushing your pipes is a simple way to reduce lead exposure. Let cold water run for a few minutes before using it for drinking or cooking, as lead concentrations are typically higher when water has been sitting in pipes.

Use Only Cold Water for Drinking and Cooking

Hot water can increase the likelihood of lead leaching, so it’s safer to use cold water for any consumption and heat it as needed.

Steps Chicago Is Taking to Address Lead in Water

In recent years, Chicago has taken steps to address the prevalence of lead pipes in its homes and water infrastructure. The city has introduced initiatives to make lead testing and lead pipe replacement more accessible.

However, replacing all lead service lines is a long-term project that may take decades. Chicago residents can access free lead testing kits and may be eligible for partial reimbursement or lead service line replacement funding. Awareness and testing remain essential, especially for those moving into older homes where lead plumbing is more likely.

Final Thoughts on Relocating to an Older Chicago Home and Testing for Lead Pipes

Relocating to an older Chicago home can offer many benefits, but safety should be a top priority, especially when it comes to drinking water. Whether you choose to use a lead testing kit, hire a professional, or utilize Chicago’s resources, knowing if your home has lead pipes empowers you to make informed decisions. As you settle into your new home, taking proactive steps to safeguard your water supply will allow you to enjoy everything your Chicago home offers with peace of mind.

Hydro-jetting is currently one of the most-effective methods for clearing clogs from drainpipes. This process uses a high-pressure water blast to dislodge and wash away clogs inside a drainpipe. But is this method safe for cleaning old pipes?

In this post, we will explain how hydro-jetting works, what you should consider before you hydro-jet your old sewer lines and the alternatives to hydro-jetting.

How hydro-jetting works

Hydro-jetting is a non-invasive method for unblocking and cleaning pipes. The plumber does not have to dig a trench to access the pipe that is being cleaned. Instead of digging a hole in the ground, a powerful jet of water is shot into the pipe to remove all blockages inside it.

The hydro-jetting machine, also known as a ‘jetter,’ is made up of the following components:

A tank which holds the water to be used during the operation
A flexible steel hose that is mounted on a drum or comes in sections which can be joined to make them as long as desired
A range of stainless steel nozzles; the type of pipe and severity of the clog determines the proper nozzle to use
The mechanism for pressuring the water

To hydro-jet a line, the flexible steel hose is passed into the pipe with the nozzle attached to its end. The drainpipe is accessed through a cleanout or one of the drains in the home, explains the Peak Residential Management team. The drum is used to unroll and push the hose into the drainpipe while it is guided by the plumber’s hand.

While this is going on, a stream of water is shot into the drain via the hose and nozzle. The nozzle can direct the water forward, backwards, and against the pipe surface. It not only clears the clogs inside the pipes, the pipes are washed clean, as the debris inside them is carried away.

To do this, a hydro-jetting machine uses pressures of 1,500 to 5,000 psi (pounds per sq. inch). That is enough pressure to shear away any tree roots inside the pipes. For reference, when pressure-washing a brick wall, you are advised never to exceed 1,500 psi.

That is why before hydro-jetting a drain line, it is essential to conduct a visual assessment of the line first. That is typically done via a sewer camera inspection. Through this inspection, the plumber can check the condition of the pipes and determine if they can withstand hydro-jetting.

Should you hydro-jet old pipes?

Older pipes are more likely to have cracks and weak spots in them. The pressure of the water used in hydro-jetting can compound the existing issues with such pipes. For this reason, hydro-jetting is not always safe for old pipes. If pipes are fragile, do not hydro-jet them.

Old sewer pipes can be made from a range of materials, and as these pipe materials age, they may start to change in the following ways:

Cast iron: Despite its durability, the big issue with cast iron is its vulnerability to rust. A rusty cast iron pipe will not only slow your drain, it will become fragile.
Copper: Due to oxidation, copper pipes form pinholes over time and become vulnerable to corrosion.
ABS: Although similar to PVC, ABS is a polymer. It will become brittle if it is constantly exposed to low temperatures.
PVC: With frequent exposure to low temperatures, PVC will become brittle. This process does not depend on age; it can happen to PVC pipes of any age.
Clay: Clay pipes are particularly susceptible to root invasion. Tree roots can undermine the stability of the pipe.

Hydro-jetting old pipes will damage them if they are showing any of these signs. Before hydro-jetting a sewer line with old pipes, you should get a professional plumber to do a sewer camera inspection to determine if hydro-jetting is the best drain-cleaning option for you.

Alternatives to hydro-jetting

The best alternative to hydro-jetting is sewer rodding. That is a way to manually push or pull clogs out of the drain. Although no drain-cleaning method is 100%-safe, sewer rodding offers more control than hydro-jetting. A rodding machine can be maneuvered such that it doesn’t touch the pipe walls.

Sewer rodding is similar to hydro-jetting in some ways. When rodding a pipe, a long flexible tube (known as a ‘plumber’s snake’ or ‘drain snake’) is inserted into the drain. This tube contains a cable, the end of which is attached to a corkscrew auger that resembles a coiled spring or drill bit.

The tube is then hand-cranked to spin the corkscrew. A combination of twisting, pulling and pushing movements are used to snag any clog inside the drain and pull it out. Although it takes more time than hydro-jetting, a sewer rodding service is decidedly the better option when working with fragile pipes.

In Conclusion

Is hydro-jetting acceptable for old pipes? It depends on the condition of the old pipes. Before hydro-jetting old pipes, do a camera sewer inspection to determine their ability to withstand high water pressure. Depending on the inspection result, you may use or reject hydro-jetting.

Category Archives: lead pipes in chicago

Relocating to an Older Chicago Home? Test for Lead Pipes First