Owning a home is a huge responsibility and there are many maintenance tasks that can help to keep key systems in good condition. Regular maintenance for the water heater and drain cleaning are two prime examples of a proactive approach. But, one of the best things that you can do to protect your home plumbing system is repiping. This is a large task and it must be tackled by a local plumbing professional. In this article, we will look at three key repiping benefits in more detail.
Although plumbing pipes are designed to last a long time, they cannot survive forever. Over the decades, these pipes will gradually degrade until they start to develop pinhole leaks, cracks, and eventually breaks. If your home was built over 50 years ago, it’s highly likely that your plumbing pipes are reaching the end of their useful lifespan. This will vary depending on the materials used to make the pipes. Copper plumbing pipes can last for 60 up to 80 years and galvanized steel pipes may last as long as 100 years. But, the water quality, the use of chemical cleaners, and other plumbing issues can shorten these projected lifespan times.
When plumbing pipes degrade, they begin to release water and these leaks can cause a lot of damage in a short period of time. Many of these water leaks are hidden and they may be overlooked for some time. Another consequence of these leaks is that they cause a drop in water pressure. These problems cannot be corrected unless the underlying problem is fixed. Repairing certain sections of pipe may be possible, but in many cases, it’s a better idea to repipe the entire home.
The presence of strangely colored water can be disconcerting, but it may be a sign that something is wrong with your plumbing system. The most common manifestation is orange colored water which usually indicates the presence of rust in the water. This may be caused by the corrosion of the internal surfaces of the pipes. This is common in homes that have older iron or lead pipes. The former is prone to corrosion and the latter should be removed as a priority because they are a significant threat to your health.
As you can see, there are significant benefits when you make the decision to repipe your home. This is a complex task, a DIY plumber should leave this to a professional because it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the task. Switching to new modern pipe materials such as PEX and copper will protect your home against water leaks and low water pressure issues. These materials are durable and long-lasting and you may avoid changing your pipes again during your lifetime. It’s also worth noting that new pipes are an attractive feature for many home buyers.
If you’re considering repiping your home, contact your local certified and licensed plumber today.