Experiencing problems with a plumbing system is a normal part of life for many homeowners, but you will experience even more problems if the pipes in your home are really old and worn out. There may even come a time when you decide to re-pipe your entire home to stop the problems you keep facing.
Here are several key things to know about plumbing pipes and replacing them at some point in time.
Signs That Your Pipes Have Major Problems
The pipes in your home transport fresh water to faucets and waste water to the septic, but they do not last forever. In a brand-new home, the pipes will most likely work perfectly. In an older home, though, the pipes might start experiencing problems. This is normal, simply because pipes wear out.
If you notice the following signs
, they could indicate that you need to replace your pipes because of age and use:
- You have low water pressure – Low water pressure occurs for a variety of reasons, but it often occurs as pipes wear out.
- You experience a lot of clogs – If you start experiencing more clogged drains than normal, it might be a sign that your pipes are worn out.
- You have leaks – Old pipes tend to start leaking, and water leaks cause a lot of damage in homes.
- Your water looks bad – Discoloration of water occurs too when pipes wear out; however, there are other things that also cause this.
Although plumbing pipes last a very long time, they do not last forever. At some point, you should consider replacing them if you are experiencing these signs.
How Plumbers Complete Re-Piping Jobs
As you can imagine, re-piping a home is not the simplest task a plumber does, but it is possible. There are several ways plumbers do this, and the way your plumber does it will depend on several factors:
- The condition of the pipes – The first thing the plumber will determine is whether to replace the fresh water pipes, waste water pipes or both, and this depends on the condition of the pipes.
- The difficulty of accessing pipes – Plumbers also consider the difficulty of accessing pipes when making this decision. They will often begin by replacing only the exposed pipes and doing the rest later.
These are the two main factors your plumber may consider when completing this job, and every job is different.
In many cases, plumbers will remove drywall from walls to access the pipes behind them. This creates a big mess and requires replacing the drywall and painting. If a plumber can avoid this, he or she may simply find another way to perform the task in order to avoid the mess involved.
Plumbers also complete jobs like this by using flexible pipes, often called PEX. With this, a plumber can snake the pipes through walls. The benefit is that it creates less of a mess, and there is less work the plumber must do after re-piping the home.
The Costs Involved
Every job has unique needs and challenges, and therefore each re-piping project costs a different amount. A plumber can determine the amount it would cost to re-pipe your home, and you can determine if you are willing to pay this before the plumber begins.
Keep in mind, plumbing problems cause major issues in a home if left unrepaired. If your pipes are really old and worn-out, replacing them might be the only option you have.
If you are experiencing a lot of problems with the plumbing system in your old home, contact Mike's Plumbing. We can give you an estimate for services and can help you repair any problem you have.
