Disadvantages of galvanized iron water pipes and precautions for use

What is galvanized iron water pipe?

Galvanized iron (GI) water pipe is an iron water pipe that has been treated with hot-dip galvanizing. It is an iron pipe inside and covered with a layer of zinc metal on the outside. This treatment method can give the iron water pipe better anti-corrosion, anti-oxidation and corrosion resistance.

Process of galvanized iron water pipe:

The manufacturing process of galvanized iron water pipe is generally divided into two steps:

1. Manufacturing iron water pipe: Through ironmaking, steelmaking and other processes, iron ore is made into molten iron, and it is injected into an iron bucket to make an iron water pipe.
2. Hot-dip galvanizing: After a series of surface treatments, the iron water pipe is immersed in liquid zinc, and the outer surface is covered with a layer of zinc metal through chemical reaction and high-temperature welding.

Disadvantages of galvanized iron water pipes and precautions for use:

1. Easy to corrode
Some people think that galvanized iron water pipes have anti-corrosion functions, but this is not the case. Once the galvanized layer is damaged, the iron water pipe is prone to corrosion. Especially in acidic or high temperature environments, the corrosion rate is faster, which will affect the service life of the pipe.

2. Scale accumulation in the pipe

After using the galvanized iron water pipe for a period of time, a thick layer of scale will appear on the inner wall, which affects the normal flow of the pipe. In addition, the scale layer is easy to hide harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses, thereby affecting the water quality.

3. Easy to produce water rust
Impurities in the water will damage the galvanized layer, causing it to lose its protective function, thereby accelerating the corrosion of the iron water pipe. At this time, water rust will appear in the pipe, posing a threat to human health.

4. Impact on water quality

Since galvanized iron water pipes are prone to corrosion, harmful substances such as iron ions and zinc ions will be released in the pipe, thus affecting the water quality. These harmful substances may cause potential harm to human health, so galvanized iron water pipes should be used with extreme caution.

Typical applications of galvanized iron water pipes:

1. Building water supply and drainage system
Municipal water supply network
Building fire protection system

2. Agricultural irrigation
Drip irrigation system branch pipe
Sprinkler irrigation system main pipe

3. Industrial field
Compressed air pipeline
Low-pressure steam pipeline
Chemical liquid transportation

4. Municipal engineering
Road drainage system
Cable protective sleeve

5. Special environment application
Offshore platform auxiliary pipeline
Coal mine ventilation pipeline

Use restrictions:

Prohibited from use in:
Direct drinking water system (zinc ions may exceed the standard)
Hot water pipes with temperature > 60℃ (accelerate the shedding of zinc layer)
Strong acid (pH < 4) or strong alkali (pH > 10) medium

When using galvanized iron water pipes, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Choose suitable iron water pipes and try to avoid using water pipes containing harmful substances such as lead and cadmium;
2. Pay attention to the storage temperature of the pipes, and avoid high temperature and high humidity environments;
3. Try to avoid bending and wrinkling during use to avoid damaging the galvanized layer;
4. Before installation, the pipes should be cleaned and sterilized to ensure water quality safety; at the same time, the pipes should be cleaned and disinfected regularly during use;
5. Use appropriate anti-corrosion chemicals to extend the service life of iron water pipes.

In short, although galvanized iron water pipes have certain corrosion resistance, their shortcomings cannot be ignored. When using this kind of pipe, you need to pay special attention to the installation, cleaning, disinfection, and maintenance of the pipes to ensure water quality safety.

Read more: Guide for selecting the thickness of galvanized steel pipe