Qwain76
New Member
I live in the Chicago NW suburbs. We still have lead pipes for main water line. There is an ongoing replacement program by the villages that will last for the next 20 yrs, but for now I have to stay with my lead pipes.
The city water line (lead pipe) comes in my basement, goes to a short galvanized pipe and a shutoff valve and to the meter. After the meter it's all copper piping (done by previous owner).
I have a leak in the first fitting connecting the lead pipe to the shutoff valve. I would like to replace the first connections before the meter and replace with copper tubing from the lead pipe to the meter.
I asked several estimates and I have received astronomical requests for changing 4 ft of piping (over $2k), so I am leaning towards doing the job myself, since I have already done some plumbing (copper and PVC).
My area of unknown though is the the first connection, defining the transition between lead and copper. What are the options I have available?
Is there some sort of fitting I should use or are people soldering the connection?
Is there any city code that I need to be aware of or ask the village about?
Thanks for your help
The city water line (lead pipe) comes in my basement, goes to a short galvanized pipe and a shutoff valve and to the meter. After the meter it's all copper piping (done by previous owner).
I have a leak in the first fitting connecting the lead pipe to the shutoff valve. I would like to replace the first connections before the meter and replace with copper tubing from the lead pipe to the meter.
I asked several estimates and I have received astronomical requests for changing 4 ft of piping (over $2k), so I am leaning towards doing the job myself, since I have already done some plumbing (copper and PVC).
My area of unknown though is the the first connection, defining the transition between lead and copper. What are the options I have available?
Is there some sort of fitting I should use or are people soldering the connection?
Is there any city code that I need to be aware of or ask the village about?
Thanks for your help