What are the highest housing maintenance costs you can think about right now? Every homeowner has to keep renovating their homes from time to time. And in this process, we spend a lot of money. But, when it comes to re-piping your home, there is hardly any competition.
Re-piping an entire home is one of the most significant expenditures many homeowners would ever make in their life. But, apart from the financial aspect, re-piping is also a professional task and not a DIY one. It takes time and patience. So, is it time for re-piping your home? Here is all that you need to know.
When Should You Repipe Your Home?
Re-piping is not one of the regular jobs homeowners do. But, it is something inevitable, and when it comes, it comes all at once. Any home will need re-piping at some point in time. But, you have to know when you should re-pipe your home. There are certain conditions under when you should consider re-piping your home. Here are some of those:
- Plumbing Jobs Have Been Frequent
When your plumber visit becomes frequent, know it may be a signal to re-pipe your home. Pipes do not crumble within a year. It has been there for too long. But, when it starts to damage, you fix it with the help of a professional plumber. Minor damage to a pipe won’t create many problems.
But when there are more extensive damages, your plumber might recommend you for a re-piping. So, if you notice that you have to call your plumber frequently for piping problems, consider asking him for advice. The plumber may be the right person to tell you what you should do.
- If Your Pipes Are Old
Re-piping is always recommended in case the pipes are old. Well, as we said previously, you cannot skip the re-piping part ever. If your house old and has older pipes, and over that, you face piping problems, it is better to consider re-piping. But, under what conditions should that be done?
For one thing, one of the rarest cases may be having lead pipes. Well, lead pipes are extremely old (probably were used around back in 1920). But, if you have that old house, you might run a quick check. For other cases, there can be a leaking problem or other water problems.
Also, older pipes can cause other health-related issues as well. For example, lead pipes are not at all suitable for health. So, if you have an old house, make sure you don’t avoid any signs telling you about re-piping.
- There are Multiple Leaks
How can you forget leaks when it is about the pipes? Leaking is one of the most common piping problems. Although they should not happen quite often, when it does, it needs to be fixed. You can fix a single leak. But when you notice there are multiple leaks on your pipe, it needs to be replaced.
Old pipes sustain more damages than newer ones. Especially if your house is old, you will notice these sorts of damages frequently. If there are multiple leakages in your pipe, it is better to replace them with new ones. However, if you are confused, you may take some advice from your plumber.
- Bad Smell or Taste in Water
Remember studying the nature of water in your childhood that it is odorless, colorless, and tasteless? Well, pure water should have these properties. But when it gets polluted, either of these things may change. If you notice any change in your water, like smelling or tasting bad, you should better check your piping.
While water taste, smell, or color may indicate different problems, one significant issue may be related to the pipes. If your pipeline water only has this condition, it may mean that the pipes are deteriorating. At this point, you should run a professional check and get the lines replaced.
- Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure can be another significant sign of pipe problems. It can be a reason for clogging due to some build-up in the pipe. But, how would you know if water pressure is low? Well, it does not need any expert eye.
Whenever you run the water, notice whether the pressure is getting low over time or not. Or, you can also see if the water pressure is the same as before. If this is the case, you might better replace your pipelines as soon as possible.
How Does Re-Piping Work?
For one thing, re-piping is not DIY unless you are a professional with years of experience. Therefore, if you think you don’t have that much experience, always call for a professional. Here is how re-piping is done:
- Before It Starts
Before you go for re-piping, you will need to estimate the damage (if any) or other expenses. If you plan to re-pipe the whole house, the costs will increase a lot. If you are to hire a professional, the person/company will estimate your expenses. You have to keep these ready before they start to work.
- When It Starts
When they start working, they will first cover up your home and furniture to save them from being damaged. Professional plumbing companies use high-end devices to detect where the pipes are in the wall. They then make a wall-hole and remove the pipe. After the installation, they fix the hole and color it back.
How Long Does Re-Piping Take?
The process takes some time. Plumbers try to do most of the work in the daytime without hampering your evening schedule. Re-piping your whole house takes around 2-3 days depending on certain factors. For example, if you have a larger home, it will take more time, whereas smaller houses take less. Again, the age of your home also matters while re-piping.
Conclusion
Re-piping your home is not an easy job that you do every day. It takes a lot of time and patience while under professional supervision. But, a proper examination is also essential before replacing your old water line. We will always recommend you to take professional help when you go for re-piping.
