Insights
Our blog on how community owners and operators can protect value and resident health with pipe replacement.
What’s that Awful Smell?
Sometimes, you just need to follow your nose. When sewer odors creep up from your drains or out through your walls, chances are, you have a significant plumbing problem. This was just the case at a Washington D.C. Area apartment complex. Built in the early 1960’s, this 8-story complex...
Four Reasons Why Repiping is the Proven Solution for Aging Properties
The art of the modern multi-family repipe (the installation of new pipe to replace old or defective piping) has been around for over 30 years. As buildings begin to show their age, little thought is paid to the reality that aging is more than skin deep. Lurking behind the...
The Epoxy Paradox: Problems with Epoxy Pipe Lining
When apartment and condominium communities experience systemic pipe problems that require more than just a repair, they will find there are two options currently being marketed as a solution: pipe replacement (installation of new piping to replace old or defective piping) and epoxy lining (coating the pipes from the...
Case Study: The Financial Benefits of Pipe Replacement
The owner of a 216-unit apartment community in Abeline, Texas analyzed the economic impact of a SageWater piping replacement project. The community had been suffering from frequent leaks in the interior water piping. The maintenance staff was stretched thin repairing leaks and water damage, while on-site managers were busy...
Case Study: The Financial Benefits of Boiler Conversions
Northwest Park, an 876-unit apartment community in the Mid-Atlantic region, was suffering from severe leaks in the potable water piping system. The owner had concluded that the system required replacement and was searching for the most cost-effective solution. SageWater was asked to offer suggestions on how best to proceed....
The Double Threat of Polybutylene
The longer polybutylene is in use, the greater the risk of serious complications and catastrophic failure. Between 1978 and 1995, this gray plastic resin (also known as “poly” or “poly-b” for short) was used in the manufacture of pipes and fittings that were installed in close to 10 million...
Six Signs You Have Potential Pipe Problems
You know the saying “out of sight, out of mind”? Unfortunately, it often rings true for many properties when it comes to their plumbing systems. Since most of your piping is hidden behind walls, it’s all too easy to disregard the warning signs and symptoms of an impending problem...
Assess Your Pipes – Before Catastrophe Strikes
Leaking pipes can be one of the more expensive and devastating challenges a property can experience. Issues lurking behind closed walls can cause significant damage to a building’s structure and resident’s belongings. Checking on the condition of your piping systems will help catch any potential problems before they become...
Repipe Regret: Why Waiting Doesn’t Pay
When plumbing systems start to fail, boards at AOAOs are faced with some difficult decisions. As pipe replacement is not typically considered (or budgeted for appropriately) as part of a reserve study, Hawaii’s condominiums are often confronted with tough financial considerations when faced with the prospect of a repipe....
Age Doesn’t Matter
When it comes to plumbing problems, age doesn’t always matter: While buildings that suffer from leaks are typically associated with age-related or defective product issues, newly built apartments and condominiums can also be plagued with pipe problems including leaks, drain back-ups and poor water pressure. If a newer community...