Pipe Failures in Residential Plumbing and Heating Systems
United States and Canada
Market:
Water/Wastewater
Client
Merrill, Nomura & Molineux, LLP
Completion
2010



SGH investigated the cause of failures in pipes used in residential domestic hot water and hydronic heating systems in the United States and Canada. Occurring after less than 10 yrs in service, the failures of crosslinked polyethylene-aluminum-crosslinked polyethylene (PEX-Al-PEX) pipe were characterized by blistering and splitting of the exterior pipe wall preceded by darkening and bulging of the outer PEX layer.