5 Signs Your Home Needs Repiping
Most plumbing problems can be fixed with a simple repair. However, more serious problems may mean that your home needs to be repiped. Whole-house repiping is a big investment, but it will make a big difference to your home. Here are five signs that your house needs repiping.
Age of Your Home
If your house was constructed before 1970, it’s likely that your pipes are made of outdated materials like galvanized steel, iron, or clay. Have your plumbing system inspected by a professional to determine if repiping is needed.
Polybutylene Pipes
Polybutylene is a flexible, inexpensive plastic piping that was used in residential buildings from 1978 to 1995. It’s very vulnerable to rupturing and is no longer accepted by U.S. building codes. If your pipes are white, blue gray, or light gray plastic and have the letters “PB” printed on the side, then you have polybutylene pipes. You should have your home repiped as soon as you can.
Water Discoloration
Steel pipes will begin to rust from the inside when they start to get old. You may need repiping if you see rusty water coming from both your cold-water and hot-water appliances. If only your hot water appears rusty, it’s possible that your water heater is causing the problem.
Low Water Pressure
Is water coming out of your faucets more slowly than it used to? Consistently low water pressure is a sign of mineral deposits or rust buildup in your pipes. Have a plumber inspect your pipes to find out if they need replacing.
Corrosion
Visible signs of corrosion are another indication that you need to repipe your home. Signs of corrosion to look for include:
- Rust-colored markings on the pipes
- Dimpling or flaking
- Blue-green tinting on copper pipe
- Any kind of discoloration
Left unaddressed, corrosion will usually lead to a leak.
Contact us to learn more about repiping and the plumbing services we offer.