Cast-iron pipes, copper pipes, and brass pipes all last at least 70 years or so, and even PVC pipes can last for 50 years. So, replacing pipes shouldn’t be a common occurrence. Still, when you have to make the decision about repairing or replacing, it’s best to consider the following topics before deciding.
Reasons to Replace Your Pipes
Even though lead pipes lasted the longest, sometimes more than 100 years, they were dangerous. That’s why home builders stopped using them in roughly 1950. If you’ve bought a home that was built before that, then you might have to replace all of the piping to get rid of the lead. Also, in the 1970s, the “latest thing” was polybutylene pipes. While better than lead, these pipes were quite prone to breaking at inopportune times.
Even iron and copper pipes will eventually break down because of rust or corrosion, respectively, so maintaining them is a good plan. Fortunately, these metal pipes seldom fail catastrophically, so you’ll probably have some warning that they need replacing beforehand, such as a water bill that jumps inexplicably.
Repiping your home will usually cost at least $4,000, but it could be double that or even more in certain situations. That’s if there’s no disaster. So, you can see that replacing your pipes before a catastrophe is a much better solution than waiting.
When You Can Do Repairs Instead
Usually, if your pipes aren’t that old, and you’ve taken care of them properly, then you won’t have to do a complete repipe if there’s a problem. Often, it’s just a matter of uncovering the problematic pipe, turning off the water, cutting out the faulty section, and adding a new section of pipe. A good guideline is that if the pipe is less than half as old as its expected lifespan, then you can repair instead of replace.
Signs of Trouble
With metal pipes, the first sign of a problem will usually be discolored water. With iron pipes, it’ll be brown with rust. With copper pipes, it’ll be a greenish tinge to the water. With PVC or plastic pipes, you won’t see discoloration most of the time, however. In all cases, decreased water pressure is another common telltale sign. So is the appearance of biological contaminants in drywall or on plaster near where the pipes run.
If you have hard water, then chunks of calcium deposit may come out of your faucets in the kitchen or bathtub. If it’s progressed to that point, then you’ll have to replace the pipes that have those clogs. Even if you don’t have white chunks dropping into your sinks, you can still tell if you have such calcium buildup because the water will slow to a trickle.
If your water bill spikes uncharacteristically, then that’s also a sign of trouble in your pipes. It pays to have a professional plumber check things out if you experience any of these issues. With hard water, though, a precipitous drop in your bill could also indicate trouble because you’ll use less water than usual with clogged pipes.
Our Advantages
We at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing have multiple decades of experience in the plumbing industry, and we’re supremely qualified to advise you about your pipes. Our Better Business Bureau rating of A+, along with full accreditation, speak for themselves. Trust us to treat you right when it comes to your pipes, and call us or drop by the office today to make an appointment.