Orangeburg pipe is a type of home sewer pipe used in many properties built from 1945 to 1972. Also known as “no-corrode” pipe, Orangeburg is a type of bituminized fiber pipe made from a mixture of hot pitch and wood pulp.
ABS: Short for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, this sturdy plastic was one of the first plastics used for residential plumbing. ABS pipes are always black and tend to be softer than PVC. They are mainly used for vent and drain lines, along with other outdoor underground uses where cold temperatures are common.
ABS, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is a black plastic pipe that is commonly used for drainage, sewage, and vents.
Orangeburg pipes were popular from 1945 to 1972 when metals were in low supply after the war. If your house was built during this time, Orangeburg piping was likely used.
Because of the time frame in which they were constructed, the Orangeburg pipes in many homes are nearing their expiration date. Homeowners would be wise to replace their pipes now before they are faced with serious plumbing issues down the road.
Since Orangeburg was used only until 1972, all homes with Orangeburg pipe are now over 50 years old.. If you live in an older home, you could be at risk for a massive sewer disaster.
Pipe Bursting
It's often used for heavily deteriorated Orangeburg pipes. If you have Orangeburg sewage pipes in your home, you may want to have a professional plumber perform a video inspection to identify your sewage pipes condition before it results in expensive repairs.
It's good to know that Orangeburg pipes (also known as “fiber conduit”, “bituminous fiber pipe” or “Bermico”) cannot be hydro-jetted. These pipes are made with wood pulp sealed with hot pitch and will be torn up and destroyed using hydro-jetting.
The general problem with Orangeburg pipe is that it has a maximum lifespan of approximately 50 years. In fact, in many cases, its lifespan is significantly less — about 30 years. Even if your home was built at the end of the Orangeburg pipe period, it's still long overdue to have problems.
Easy Ways To Identify Orangeburg Pipe
Orangeburg as mentioned, is made out of a wood pulp. It should be a brown/black color like ABS, or Cast Iron. To differentiate, you can find exposed orangeburg and then tap/scrape it to see the material (metal, plastic, or wood).
Black Pipe
Black pipes are strong and durable. They are also known as black steel pipes, black iron pipes or black malleable pipes. Used to transport natural and propane gas from the street or a tank to the home. Good for fire sprinkler systems because of heat resistance.
Because ABS is often a recycled or “regrind” plastic resin (to make it cost-competitive with PVC), it was essentially weakened. This caused instances of pipe fatigue and failure which led some areas to ban its use. Essentially, it's not as durable as once thought.
PVC Drainage Lines
PVC drainage lines are the most common type of drain pipe that's found in homes, and they're also available at low prices. ABS piping is similar but less commonly used.
One easy way to tell ABS and PVC apart is that ABS pipes are black and PVC pipes are white. But since pipes aren't meant to be seen, plumbers are usually more interested in other qualities. For example, PVC is more flexible, but ABS is stronger and more shock resistant.
Black MDPE
Usually standard compression fittings are used to join the pipework. Black HDPE (heavy duty polyethylene) pipes are sometimes used for industrial water systems and sewage pump mains. Black HDPE with brown stripes are sometimes used to show that it is a sewage line.
Polybutylene pipe was commonly used from 1978 – 1995 and is a gray flexible pipe. PEX is a plastic flexible pipe that comes in white, blue, orange, red and a translucent milky white clear. This piping came about to replace polybutylene plumbing.
Even if you aren't experiencing problems with your Orangeburg sewer pipe yet, it may be a good idea to proactively consider sewer line replacement. A professional plumber will be able to walk you through all of your options and help you navigate the Orangeburg pipe replacement process.
Plastic (ABS and PVC) became the top choice for new sewer lines in the late 1960s and early 1970s due to its affordability, ease of installation, and resistance to root intrusion.
Experts and municipal engineers agree that this is one of the worst pipes ever installed in the ground! Fortunately, it was banned for use in new construction in the early 70's. However, it still serves thousands of older homes in the northwest. So what if you have Orangeburg in your home?
PVC sewer pipe product was cheaper for sewer line applications. The Orangeburg, New York, plant closed in the fall of 1972. Millions of feet of the fiber electrical conduit are still in service within building structures and under our nation's streets/roads.
The generic name for Orangeburg pipe is bituminous fiber pipe. It is made up of a combination of cellulose (wood fibers) and asbestos fibers saturated with a bituminous (coal- tar) compound. Bituminous fiber was manufactured with either a homogenous wall or a multiple-ply laminated wall.
The average cost of hydro jetting a main sewer line in 2022 is $700-1,100 (Forbes).
It depends on the materials. Metal pipes are often accepted by scrap metal recycling centers, but plastic pipes may need to go in the regular trash. Check with your local recycling center or waste management authority for specific guidelines.
Identifying Orangeburg pipes often starts with their distinct appearance. They typically have a rough, corrugated surface that resembles the texture of cardboard. The pipes are usually dark brown or black in color due to the coal tar pitch used in their manufacturing.
It was used from the 1860s through the 1970s, when it was replaced by PVC pipe for water supply and ABS pipe for drain-waste-vent (DWV) applications. The name comes from Orangeburg, New York, the town in which most Orangeburg pipe was manufactured, largely by the Fiber Conduit Company.