How to tell
if your home needs its pipes replaced
If you live in an older home and begin to
notice the signs of faulty pipes, you should consider having them
replaced. While replacing the pipes in your home might seem like a
big project, it's better to get it done before a major rupture
causes significant damage to your property.
In this article, we'll go over common pipe
materials and their lifespans, the warning signs you can look out
for to figure out whether or not your home has faulty pipes, and how
our team here at Delta Mechanical can lend you a hand if your pipes
do need replacements.
Common pipe materials and their life
spans
There are
five major types of
materials used for homes built within the last 50 or so years. These
materials are copper, brass, cast iron, galvanized steel and
polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
- Copper pipes can last for 50 plus years depending on how well they're maintained.
- Brass piped tend to last for around 40 to 45 years.
- Cast iron typically lasts for around 75 to 100 years.
- Galvanized steel can last for anywhere between 20 and 50
years.
- PVC pipes can technically last indefinitely due to their
composition but realistically last between 25-40 years.
The two caveats here are lead pipes, which were
commonly used in the early 1900s, and polybutylene pipes, which were
used from the 1970s up through the 1990s. Lead is extremely
poisonous, and polybutylene is incredibly prone to breakage. If you
think you have either type of material in your house, we suggest you
get it replaced immediately.
If you know when your house was built, and when
its piping system was installed, then you should have an idea of
roughly when your
piping system might need to be replaced. If
your pipes are old according to the age chart we provided above,
then we suggest that you start checking for the warning signs of bad
pipes around your home at least once a year.
Warning signs for bad pipes
There are four primary ways that you can check your home for faulty pipes:
-
Discolored water. Discolored water
is often a sign that your pipes are corroding, rusting up your
water supply. If you notice that your pipes are consistently
spewing rusty or discolored water - particularly from multiple
sources - then it's time to call the plumber. - Leaks. If you see or smell mold or mildew in your house, it's probably the result of a leak. Since even a small leak can cause major structural damage, and mold can be detrimental to your health, it's vital that you call a plumber at the first signs of mold or mildew that reappears in the same spot consistently. Another common sign of a leak is decreased water pressure.
- Visible pipe damage. If your pipes are starting to look dimpled or if material starts flaking off of them, that means your pipes are probably due for a replacement.
- Structural damage. If you notice stains or cracks
appearing in walls, or that the ceiling or floor seems to be
warping or buckling, chances are your pipes are faulty. When you
see structural damage that looks like it could be caused by
faulty pipes, call a plumber as soon as you can.