Rust-colored water, frequent leaks, and odd smells are common signs that a home needs repiping. Even the best pipes will eventually start to corrode. With the help of a professional plumber, you can find out if you need your home repiped or not.
What Is Repiping?
Repiping is when you replace your existing pipes with new ones. Normally, this doesn’t happen until your pipes are at least a few decades old. However, repiping may need to be done earlier if there is a lot of corrosion or wear.
How Often Do Homes Need To Be Repiped?
In general, you can tell if you need to repipe your home by how old your pipes are. As plumbing systems age, they are more likely to need repiping. Corrosion and wear can cause pipes to break down over time.
In addition to considering the age of your plumbing system, it’s also important to consider the type of pipes your home has. Each material type has a different average lifespan:
- Brass: 40 to 70 years
- Galvanized Steel: 20 to 50 years
- Copper: 50 or more years
- Plastic: Indefinitely
- Cast Iron: 75 to 100 years
Once your pipes reach the end of their lifespan, you may want to have your home repiped. You can talk to a plumber at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing about getting your pipes inspected.
It’s important to keep in mind that the lifespan can vary based on how well you maintain your plumbing system. Additionally, hard water and harsh conditions can speed up corrosion.
How To Tell If Your Home Needs Repiping
There are a few common indications that your home needs repiping. If you’re worried about the health of your pipes, you can always schedule a consultation and a professional inspection.
Lead
Around 100 years ago, lead was the most popular choice for pipes. Unfortunately, this type of material is known to cause lead poisoning. If you have these pipes in your home, you need to get them changed out right away.
Age
The top factor for determining when your pipes need to be replaced is age. Once your pipes reach the end of their lifespan, they’ll suffer from more corrosion and wear.
Frequent Plumbing Issues
If it seems like you require plumbing repairs all the time, you likely need repiping. Frequent leaks are a sign of corrosion, so you will save money on repair costs by repiping your entire house.
Corrosion
Sometimes, you can see visible signs of corrosion on your pipes. If you can see rust with the naked eye, you need new pipes. You may also notice rust-colored water if a lot of corrosion is occurring.
Leaky Pipes
Sometimes, a leak can just happen because of a bad joint segment or pipe. However, you should be worried if there are leaky pipes in multiple areas of your home.
Unusual Noises
It’s normal for old pipes to make loud noises. If you frequently hear creaky noises in your home, you may need new pipes.
Low Water Pressure
Your water pressure should stay consistent throughout the year. If it suddenly decreases, it may be due to a pipe-related issue.
Weird Scents
Pay attention to how your water smells over time. If the scent suddenly changes, there may be something wrong with your plumbing. Because there are many potential causes of this issue, it’s important to call a professional plumber for diagnostic assistance.
Expensive Water Bills
If you’re using the same amount of water each month, your water bill shouldn’t increase all of a sudden. When this occurs, it is an indication of pinhole leaks or other plumbing problems. Professional plumbers have special tools that they can use to find and repair leaks. If the leaks are extensive enough, you may need your entire home repiped.
Get Help With Your Home’s Repiping
If you’re struggling with plumbing issues, you’re not alone. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we’ve helped many homeowners with repiping. To learn more about how we can help with your plumbing problems, reach out to one of our team members today.