Every homeowner would like for the water pipes in their home to last forever or at least as long as they want them to. Sadly, this does not happen. At some point, regardless of how careful you are, you will have to replace the entire pipe system for your house, says Best Rental Services.
But doing that is a huge cost and you don’t want to do it unless you absolutely need to. So, when should you start thinking of repiping your house? What are the signs that your house may be due for a new network of water pipes?
Why should you repipe your home?
There are a number of reasons why you may want to replace the plumbing in your home. If your house meets any of these three conditions, then it may be due for a whole house repipe.
- Your home has galvanized pipes: if the house was built before 1970, it will, in all likelihood, be plumbed in copper or galvanized pipes. Galvanized pipes have zinc lining inside and this would have worn thin by now. With the lining gone, the iron inside the pipes will be exposed and start to rust. This will affect the quality of water flowing out of your faucets.
- There is grey polybutylene piping in your plumbing: Polybutylene (PB) pipes were popular from 1975 up until 1995, because they were very affordable. But it was soon discovered that they were reactive and prone to develop microfractures. If you still have grey polybutylene pipes in your plumbing system, it is time to get rid of them. The same applies to lead pipes.
- Your house is over 50 years old: If the house is 50 years old or over and the plumbing system has never been updated, you certainly need a whole house water service line replacement. Most old houses will have cast iron, galvanized steel, or clay pipes in them. Between the time of their installation and today, those pipes would have deteriorated.
Signs that you should repipe your home
If you are dealing with any of these issues in your home, there is a chance that your water pipes need to be replaced:
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The water smells and tastes bad
If the water in your house has a slight or pronounced odor and you hate putting in in your mouth because of the bad taste, then the plumbing has probably run its course and need to be replaced.
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Water pressure is low
If faucet aerators are not cleaned, debris can accumulate inside and this can cause low water pressure. If the low water pressure is caused by a faucet, the problem is usually not evident across the entire home. However, if the water pressure is low across the whole house, it is possible that the diameter of your water pipes has been severely narrowed by corrosion and sediments.
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Discoloration of water
Your water will have a rusty – brownish, reddish, or yellowish – color if the water pipes in your house have a serious problem of rust and sedimentation. This is because as the water travels through the pipes, it carries rust particles with it.
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Signs of corrosion
If pipes are corroded you may notice dents, flaking, and discoloration on them. Of course, if this is happening with just one section of piping, only that portion needs to be replaced. But if the signs are pervasive in all pipes in your house, it may be time to repipe your home.
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A problem with leaking pipes
A single leaking pipe does not mean you have to replace all the pipes in your home. But if your water pipes are regularly springing leaks; you fix a leak in one section, only for another section to start leaking, it means the pipes are weak and need to be replaced.
What does it take to repipe a house?
Repiping your house is a major project which can take between three and five days to complete. How long the work actually takes depends on the size of your house and the age or type of pipes in it. Generally, older pipes will take longer to remove.
The location of the pipes can also influence the duration of this project. For instance, if pipes were laid before a slab foundation was poured, plumbers need to excavate to reach those pipes. While your home is being repiped, the water supply will be shut off for a few hours every day.
Before repiping your house, the plumber will inspect the plumbing to determine the quantity and type of materials that will be needed. Based on this, they can give you an estimate for the project.
Will you need to replace your ceilings or drywalls after the home is repiped? No, the plumber will make precise cuts in the ceiling or drywall to gain access to the pipes. After the work is done those cuts will be expertly patched and smoothed over to make them as good as new.