With
the New Year here, it's important to consider your home's plumbing
pipes. In fact, you may want to make new pipes a part of your new year's
resolution. That's why, in this article, we answer the popular question: "When
should I repipe my home?"
Learn
the top reasons why you should consider repiping your home now.
1) Your pipes are old.
Do you
know the age and condition of your home's piping? When was the last time you
had it inspected? Many people think that plumbing pipes never need to be
replaced. However, this is untrue. In fact, no piping lasts forever.
Older
homes are especially prone to plumbing problems from old pipes.
As a
result, your old pipes should be inspected by a licensed Atlanta plumber to determine the age and condition
as well as identify any existing issues that could lead to more severe
problems in the new year. But age and condition isn't the only thing to check
for: You should also consider the material.
2) Your pipes contain hazardous
material, such as lead or polybutylene.
It's also essential to note that homes built before 1986
may have piping made out of materials hazardous to your health. Yes, pipes can
contain lead and/or polybutylene.
Additionally, even without lead service lines, a common problem found with brass or
chrome-plated faucets is that they may be used and/or connected with lead
solder. Lead is toxic and can be harmful if consumed.
In fact, according to the CDC, lead can
enter drinking water when a chemical reaction occurs in plumbing materials that
contain lead. Then, over time, through a process called "corrosion," the water wears
away the metal and lead contaminants and enters the body, through consumption
or exposure.
Lead is very toxic, and prolonged exposure to it naturally
accumulates in the human body. This can produce harmful effects, as the body
negatively reacts to the exposure to lead.
Per the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
people who are experiencing prolonged exposure to lead may be at risk for heart
disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, reduced fertility, and even
cancer.
Thus, no matter the year your home is built or the area you live
in, it's very important to have a professional check your plumbing system to
see if there is a potential for lead to be used to distribute water throughout
your home.
3) You experience low water pressure
in showers and sinks.
Lower
water pressure can be a sign of leaking pipes and time for repiping. Your
home's piping system should maintain a certain pressure level with proper
installment and maintenance.
Likewise,
under normal pressure conditions set throughout the piping system and your city
water municipality, your home's water pressure should be fairly consistent.
However, due to wear and tear on piping, misproper installment, corrosive
materials, or breakage can allow water to change pressure.
As a
result, this creates a drastic water drop in pressure. If left unfixed, this is
a recipe for higher costs reflected on your water bill, as the water is dispersed throughout your home—and not in your toilet, sinks, or bathtubs.
If
you've been noticing lower-than-usual water pressure in your sinks or showers,
there's a good chance that you have leaking pipes, and it's time to schedule service today.
4) You hear strange noises coming
from floors or walls.
There
may be some exceptional occurrences where your home's plumbing produces rattling,
squealing, or banging noises after turning on the water faucet in the kitchen
or bathroom and even when flushing the toilet.
Oftentimes, this can be due to improper installation of your plumbing system,
which an expert Atlanta plumbing company should fix.
But,
more importantly, if such a problem is left alone for too long, it can put
unnecessary strain on the joints and fittings and can potentially create significant
leakage problems, raising the risk of water damage throughout your home.
5) You hear strange noises coming
from floors or walls.
Whenever
a brown or rust color is seen in the water from your faucets, it means there
is corrosion being brought from the aged and corroded piping. This is then
being distributed throughout your water system.
Rust-colored water can be unpleasant and problematic, especially if it occurs in
your washer system, causing stains in clothes. Moreover, if you are not
experiencing discoloration in your water, take a look at your current plumbing
setup and see if there are visible signs of corrosion on the piping.
6) You encounter frequent clogs.
If you
have an older home with aging piping systems throughout, it's common for the
system to not properly distribute household waste to sewage lines.
This
can be due to the outdated material used for piping, such as galvanized or cast
iron pipes, which tend to rust and corrode.
As the
piping ages, the material reacts to air and water and, ultimately, corrodes,
causing hair, double-ply toilet paper, and tissues (to name a few) to catch
onto the sharp edges created by this natural reaction.
As a
result, the efficiency of your plumbing system is weakened, and waste is
backed-up, despite the exhaustive methods you're using to unclog your home's
toilets and sinks.
Make Repiping a
New Year's Resolution with Estes Services
There
you have it. We discussed the top reasons why you should consider home repiping
in the new year. As you can see, scheduling an inspection for your home's
piping system is a great way to start the new year off right.
Consider making home repiping a part of your New Year's resolutions. Besides, think how much a plumbing emergency from leaking pipes could disrupt your other 2023 resolutions.
Our
Atlanta plumbing experts are happy to discuss your home pipping needs for the
new year. Schedule service, or give us a call today. It's that Easy; It's
Estes!
Happy
New Year from Estes Services!
