3 Signs It's Time To Consider Repiping Your Home
Sometimes, your plumbing system needs a minor repair to resolve a leak or a clog. However, when plumbing problems become expensive and more frequent, you may need to consider repiping your home.
But to know when to schedule a repiping, look out for these three symptoms.
Water Discoloration
Sudden changes in the watercolor indicate changes in mineral concentration, contamination, or other serious problems that require your urgent attention. In other words, discoloration is a sign that water contains rust, minerals, and other sediments that influence its appearance.
Other reasons for discoloration are temporary. The potential causes of temporary changes in watercolor include:
- Heavy rains in your neighborhood
- Changes in municipal water pressure
- Malfunctioning filtration
But permanent discoloration is a sign of a more severe problem with your household plumbing system. With time, iron or rust can build up in the plumbing system, causing yellow or brown-colored water that has a metallic taste. You need to call your plumber to check the severity of the problem and replace old galvanized pipes.
Visible Corrosion
If you notice stains, flaking, or discoloration, there could be a severe corrosion issue. This problem is often so severe that you need to consider a whole-house repiping. While older pipes are more likely to corrode, even new ones do for various reasons.
Common causes of corrosion include:
- Low pH: If water pH is acidic or neutral, the copper oxide barrier dissolves fast, leaving copper pipes vulnerable to accelerated corrosion.
- Chemical Drain Cleaners: Apart from clearing clogs, chemical drain cleaners may eat away at your pipes.
Corroding pipes may soon alter water color and taste. If they are not replaced, they may develop leaks and cause costly water damages and costly repairs.
Low Water Pressure
Many homeowners may not realize how important water is until they have a problem with their main water supply. In case of a significant supply issue, you may be left without access to water at all. In other instances, water may be working, but you may still experience low-pressure issues.
Low water pressure may significantly impact the quality of life in your home. The issue may affect many things, from washing dishes to doing laundry.
Common causes of diminished water pressure include:
- Faulty fixtures, such as faucets or water heads
- Closed valves
- Broken pressure regulator
In other instances, loss of water pressure may be attributed to other problems that require repiping. If there's a clog, the blocked pipes might need to be cleaned or replaced. If the reduced water pressure is caused by corroded plumbing, you may only need to replace small piping sections.
The plumbing system in your home won't last forever. The pipes will begin to wear with time, leading to water discoloration, bad tasting water, leaks, or other problems. If you notice any of these three signs, you should contact your plumber to understand your options.
Share