Is It Time To Repipe Your Home?

As a homeowner you are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep on your home. Some maintenance tasks are simple and easy to facilitate, like drain cleaning or flushing your water heater. Other maintenance tasks may be a little more time consuming and expensive, like replacing your roof or in this instance repiping your home. Eventually wear and tear can take its toll on your plumbing system, and you may have to repipe your home. Repiping your home is a big project to undertake, not to mention costly. Which is why it is important to be able to recognize the signs that it is time to repipe, so that you can prepare. 

Reasons To Repipe

There are several reasons why you may need to repipe your home. If you live in an older home with older plumbing, your pipes could be worn out. The daily grind is rough on your plumbing over the years, especially if your plumbing hasn’t been taken well care of. In addition, some of the building materials used in the past might not be as durable as the materials used today. Galvanized steel, iron, and even wood have all been used in the making of plumbing pipes in the past. And all of these materials are susceptible to corrosion, which can eventually cause weaknesses and leaks. Having a plumbing inspection can help tell you what shape your plumbing is in. Repiping may be a good choice to get ahead of repairs.    Aside from corroded old plumbing, there may be a risk of contamination from harmful substances like lead or asbestos. Lead and asbestos where commonly used in construction for the first half of the 20th century. Lead is primarily found in old paint dust, however it was also used in the construction of water supply pipes until it was banned in the 1920’s. From there it was still used in the solder until 1986 when it was banned. Asbestos was used in all kinds of building materials including the insulation that coated older pipes. Exposure to either substance can lead to serious illness. If you are concerned about the plumbing in your home, you may want to talk to a professional about your options.  Poor water pressure is another reason you may want to repipe your home. Overtime mineral deposits can restrict the flow of water through you supply lines. This can be particularly cumbersome in areas with hard water. You can try flushing your lines with vinegar, however this is very time consuming and may not be all that effective. The most effective solution is to repipe your home. If you are met with a trickle of water when you turn on the tap, your water supply lines may be corded and in need of replacement.   In addition to your water supply lines, you may also notices issues with your drains and sewer lines. Sluggish drainage could be an indication that a pipe is damaged or cracked. Unexplained puddles of water in the yard is another indication that something is amiss. Drain pipes can get damaged for a variety of reasons. Maybe something went down the drain that doesn't belong, or maybe tree-roots are infiltrating your pipes. Sewer lines can also be damaged due to shifting ground, heavy rains, or maybe they weren't installed correctly. If you hare having issues with your sewer or drain lines, call your plumber right away. Drainage issues are not only annoying, but can cause excess damage and pose health risks.