The useful life of hot water piping in buildings is influenced not only by the character of the water circulated, its potential corrosiveness and scale forming properties and by the piping material but also by a group of factors which may be called operating conditions.
Affecting operating conditions significantly is the design and fabrication of distribution systems.
An understanding of these factors will make improved service and longer pipe life possible.
Faulty hot water circulation creates a number of problems including fluctuating temperatures which frequently leads to overheated water and consequently to accelerated corrosion and to joint leaks caused by excessive expansion and contraction strains.
Modern hot water generation and distribution involves control devices such as aquastats and mixing valves which the building superintendent ordinarily is not sufficiently experienced with to adjust and maintain. Improper maintenance causes many pipe systems to be ruined by excessively high water temperatures. Proper design, maintenance and operation which produces an adequate supply of circulated hot water at the proper temperature not only saves wasted fuel and water but helps to prevent clogging by sediment and the products of accelerated corrosion.
