When is it Time to Replace Those Pipes?

It can be difficult to tell when the pipes in your home need to be replaced but there are some tell tale signs. In time your pipes will corrode, rust and decay. Unless you eventually replace the plumbing, you could be facing a flood of water or raw sewage in your home that can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your property and belongings.

Old pipes do not have to become a plumbing disaster. Here are a few ways to assess your plumbing needs and when it’s time for a replacement.

Be conscientious of the types of pipes you have. The type of plumbing in your home determines how long you can hope for them to last. Reviewing the home inspection report you received when you purchased the house will help reveal your type of plumbing --or you can have one of our trusted plumbers inspect your home for you.

Brass and galvanized steel pipes that are used as supply pipes can have a typical lifespan of 80 to 100 years. Copper slightly less time at just 70 to 80 years. A cast iron drain line could be expected to last anywhere between 80 and 100 years where has a PVC drain line has the estimated lifespan of 25-40 years.

Even if your pipes are older than these estimated lifespans, it doesn’t necessarily mean they need to be replaced. A well maintained pipe could last longer and a poorly maintained ones or homes in areas with hard water could have to replace their plumbing sooner. No matter what types of plumbing you have, you need to keep an eye on it.

If you have either of these types of pipes in your home, they need to be removed right away --no matter how old they are. Used in the early 1900’s, lead pipes have an life expectancy of 100 years but the lead can seep into your drinking water causing serious health risks. The other type of plumbing that should be removed promptly are polybutylene pipes. Used from the 1970’s to the 1990’s these pipes are extremely prone to breakage.

If your house is 60 years old or older make sure you do an annual inspection of your plumbing. Look at any exposed pipe for telltale signs of trouble. Any discoloration, stains, dimpling, or flaking are all signs of corrosion. If you find any of these abnormalities contact a plumber to do an inspection because it may be time to replace those pipes soon.

Have You Rodded Your Line Today?

Many of us enjoy cooking at home. And when we begin the frenzied whirlwind of cooking for our families and guests; we ask a lot of our kitchens. We regard the hole in the sink as sort of an abyss that carries our rotted, spoiled, wilted waste to another realm where we don’t have to see it anymore... Or smell it for that matter.

But, beneath that sink lies an intricately woven series of pipes that carrie that unwanted waste to our sewers. And; should that network become impeded by that “forgotten” waste? Then you will experience a back up, and that unwanted waste just made you remember.

In this instance you will want to call a professional. “Rodding” is when a plumber uses a heavy duty cable line that has teeth on the end of it to break through any clog within the deepest reaches of your home. This can save you a fortune. Especially when performed annually. Much like the veins in the human body, a constant unimpeded flow must be allowed in order for the body, or in this case the house, to live.