Signs It’s Time to Upgrade or Replace Your Plumbing

Dealing with plumbing issues is never fun, no matter where you are. When things get bad, you don’t have a lot of time to handle them. And if you don’t tackle them when you should, you can end up with major property damage. To help you assess it right, we’ll talk about signs it’s time to upgrade or replace your plumbing.

Now, there are many reasons why your plumbing may fail. The most usual suspects are age, lack of maintenance, temperature fluctuations, and faulty components. Of course, trusting some of the plumbing myths doesn’t help either. However, pipes are designed to last for decades. So, even if they’re twenty years old, it doesn’t mean there’s no more life in them.

On the other hand, there will be times when an upgrade or replacement of these is necessary. And today, we’ll talk about those times. Therefore, let’s see for which things you should call a professional.

Cracks

Some signs that you need a pipe replacement will be tough to spot. But this isn’t one of those. If you have a crack in your pipes, it’ll be easy to spot it. If we’re talking about a visible one, you’ll clearly see water coming out of it.

But what if it’s under a floor or behind a wall? The situation isn’t much different here either. It’s only a matter of time when the water will start to soak the wall or floor. So, the damage will be the obvious sign.

We don’t have to explain why it’s so important not to ignore any wet spots in any part of your house. If you don’t deal with it as soon as you see it, it can lead to more serious damage or mold growth. And that certainly isn’t a thing you want to happen.

Overlooking the water damage in your home can lead to more serious issues. Alt tag: A wall with paint peeling off.

Leaks

A pipe doesn’t have to be cracked to leak. If there’s a loose connection between the two of them, it can lead to water escaping. At first, not much water will leak. But with time, things can get worse.

Now, there is no need to call a professional for every single problem you face in your home. If you have some know-how and the necessary tools, DIY home improvements are always an option. Some improvements you can do on your own, and fixing a leak on an exposed piece of plumbing is one of them. Anyone who has tackled a DIY project before shouldn’t have any problems with it.

However, if your pipes are in bad shape, this may not be the best idea. While you’re trying to fix them, they might crack, and you’ll end up with a bigger problem than you had in the first place. So, if you’re not sure how to assess their shape, it’s better to call in someone who will know what to do.

Corrosion

If your plumbing pipes are clogging up more often than they should, there are a few reasons why this might be happening. Maybe your family is putting something they shouldn’t down the drain. But, there’s also a possibility that your pipes are corroding inside out.

The first scenario isn’t alarming. You’ll easily fix it by just being more careful. However, the latter certainly is one of the signs it’s time to upgrade or replace your plumbing.

Try to find out what kind of pipes you have in your home. If they’re galvanized steel ones, that’s not a good sign. These are known to corrode. And if the process has already started, it’s only a matter of time when you’ll need to replace them.

Corroded pipes can be the cause of many problems and a health hazard. Alt tag: Corroded pipes stacked up. 

Discolored water

No matter if you’re taking a shower or washing dishes in your kitchen, you want your water to be crystal clear. So, if it appears to be a yellow or brown shade with sediment floating around in it, that isn’t a good sign.

Of course, it doesn’t have to mean that the problem is in your pipes. It might be a temporary problem with your local water supply. But, it could also be a sign of corrosion we talked about earlier. And since this is one of the things that fail a home inspection, it’s not something that you should live with.

However, there’s no reason to jump to a conclusion either. It’s the best idea to give it a day or two to see if the situation changes. If it doesn’t, you want to avoid drinking the water or bathing in it, and call a plumber as soon as you can.

Decreased water pressure

Similar to our previous point decreased water pressure could be a sign of a problem in your area rather than in your home. For instance, if there’s some trouble with the water main on your street, that can lead to lower water pressure in your house. 

On the other hand, if the problem persists, it may be your plumbing system crying for help. It’s worth mentioning that this isn’t necessarily the sign that something is wrong. Maybe your water pipes just aren’t cut out to deliver the pressure you need. In this case, the upgrade is what you need. 

Decreased water pressure can be one of the signs it’s time to upgrade or replace your plumbing. Alt tag: Water leaking from the faucet.

Old age

If the pipes in your home are made out of PVC, you probably won’t have to worry about replacing them ever. Many of these will last indefinitely, so there will never be a need to call a plumber for whole-house repiping. 

However, pipes made out of any other material will need to be replaced at some point. All of these have a life expectancy, so here’s what you can expect from each of them.

• Galvanized steel – 20 to 50 years
• Brass – 40 to 45 years
• Copper 50 years
• Cast iron – 75 to 100 years

Knowing the age of your system can be one of the signs it’s time to upgrade or replace your plumbing. So, be sure to crunch the numbers and see how old the pipes in your home are. It’ll give you an idea of when you should change them.