Just like any other component of your home, your plumbing pipes wear down over the years, with some materials aging quicker than others. At some point in your homeownership, especially if your home is more than a couple decades old, you may need pipe relining, repair, or complete home repiping. This is an extensive job, but one that our professional plumbers are very familiar with and highly skilled at managing. Plus you’ll benefit in a number of ways from whole house repiping! Namely, you won’t have to worry about any surprise plumbing leaks or repair needs for many years.
Of course, we understand that nobody really wants to invest in a plumbing project like this. It’s not exactly the most convenient or fun thing to have done. But managing it sooner rather than later can help prevents years of problems, including higher water bills than necessary and even potential property damage from leaks and the like. But how do you know when it’s time for repiping? Aside from having a professional plumbing inspection done, are there signs you can watch out for?
There sure are! Read on to learn what they are.
The Age of Your Home
The age of the plumbing system in your home is the first indicator of whether or not you need new piping. A home built before 1970 that has had no plumbing upgrades whatsoever is a steady contender for repiping. Vintage houses like this probably have cast iron or galvanized steel pipes, which are susceptible to corrosion over time. They can last about 50 years… and if you do the math, you’ll see why now is the time to put in new pipes.
Homes built in the 80s and 90s aren’t immune to problems either–they probably have polybutylene plastic plumbing pipes, which can easily become brittle and start cracking.
How Frequently You Have Leaks
If you’ve ever had professional leak detection done, which we suggest that homeowners have done every few years, and your plumbing professionals found several hidden leaks or potential for leakage, then it’s a sign your pipes are degrading and need replacement.
Sure, you can keep calling our plumbers for repairs every time a leak pops up, but this isn’t exactly a cost-effective or even a time-effective approach for you. Plus, you might not even know about the leak until it’s already caused significant property damage in your home.
Higher Than Average Water Bills
The cost of your water use is of course going to fluctuate over time, but you can always look at your bills to determine how much you’re actually using. If you notice a sharp spike that doesn’t seem to correlate to how much water you’re actually using then it is cause for concern.
We advise first that you call for leak detection, and then from there, our professionals can advise you on what type of material your pipes are made out of, and if we’d recommend repiping.
A couple of other signs that indicate you have a pipe problem that could lead to repiping or even repair is if you have discolored water or a drop in water pressure. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have any concerns about your plumbing performance.
To schedule professional plumbing in DuPont, WA, contact Brooks Plumbing Co. today!
