Signs it’s Time to Repipe Your Home
Serving Vancouver WA – Camas WA – Battle Ground WA
Depending on which type of plumbing your home is fitted with, you will need to repipe it sooner or later. Houses built prior to 1970 are nearly all in need of repiping at this point, due to the corrosive nature of the galvanized steel piping from the era. Even PVC, copper and other piping materials are prone to corrosion, breaking, and damage from years of wear and tear. Read ahead to find out what the signs it’s time to repipe your home are, and know when you’ll be looking at a complete repiping project.
Erosion and Leaky Plumbing
Residential plumbing invariably succumbs to erosion and cracking if not repiped after a few decades. The most blatant sign that you need to have your home repiped is multiple leaks in your supply or drain pipes. While a single leak may be the result of an isolated clog or improper fitting, multiple leaks almost always indicate larger issues from ageing pipes.
If you’re not detected puddles on the floor under your plumbing, you may still have smaller leaks. To check for more discreet leaks feel around all connections and elbows in your piping. Any dripping or water accumulation indicates a larger problem forming, as functional pipes don’t allow the release of any water whatsoever.
Leaks are a sign of erosion of the material your pipes are composed of. Galvanized steel pipes in older homes are lined with Zinc, which erodes when carrying harsh water or chemicals. Another sign that your pipes are eroding is debris in your water supply. You can have your water tested for high levels of Zinc of by-products of erosion of other piping materials such as copper.
Other Signs Your Home Needs Repiped
Beyond the visual clues and puddles of water, there are other signs your home may need repiped soon. These include foul odors from your faucets and fixtures, and bad tasting water. Odors and foul tastes indicate corroded pipes and contamination of your water supply. If you are experiencing these signs of failing plumbing you need to contact a plumber as soon as possible.
Low Pressure and noisy pipes are also signs that you need a repiping of your home. Failing pipes with leaks, cracks, pitting and other issues may first be detected by low pressure issues at your sink or shower. Noisy pipes can be heard through basement walls and in crawlspaces, and are a sign that your plumbing is aged.
If you’re in the Vancouver, Battle Ground, or Camas areas of Washington, you should contact Clark County Plumbing & Drain for a reliable assessment of your home’s plumbing system.
