why are water pipes galvanized ?
Answers
Galvanized pipes are steel pipes that have been dipped in a protective zinc coating to prevent corrosion and rust. Galvanized piping was commonly installed in homes built before 1960. ... Today, however, we have learned that decades of exposure to water will cause galvanized pipes to corrode and rust on the inside.
Answer:
The purpose of galvanizing, zinc coating, is to reduce the corrosive attack by water on the iron pipe. In corrosion terminology, zinc is considered a sacrificial anode. Thus it will corrode before the iron pipe. The corrosive attack on galvanized metal is determined by the chemical properties of the water. Also the temperature of the water. However after a number of years the zinc coating is worn away and the water will attacked the iron pipe. It is best to replace galvanized pipe when it starts leaking. Do not replace just the leaking area, replace all of the pipe. I will not go into great detail but just replacing a segment of the piping system will result in numerous, increased pipe corrosion. Generally, the galvanized pipe will corrode faster in the hot water system as compared to the cold water.