If your home was built before the 70s and you have not done significant work on the plumbing since then, it might be time to consider repiping your house. When should repiping a house top your home improvement list? That’s a question for an expert plumber, but to get you started, here are seven signs that you need new plumbing.
7 Signs Your Home Needs Repiping
Pipes have changed a lot over the years, from the materials manufacturers use to make them to their durability and even safety. For instance, before the 1920s, many homes’ pipes were made of lead, which we know today to be extremely harmful to our health if it leeches into the water supply. Even if your home’s plumbing is not made of lead, however, it could be time to replace it before major problems develop.
Repiping a house is a fairly straightforward process. When a plumber replaces your plumbing they will bypass the original pipes with new pipes. If you notice any of these seven signs, you should consider contacting a plumber to discuss your options:
- Rusty water
- Water or drains that have an unusual odor
- Frequent leaks
- A drop in temperature from hot to cold when the toilet is flushed
- Unreliable water temperature
- Unreliable water pressure
- Water takes a long time to heat up
To keep your home’s plumbing in good shape, it’s important to keep an eye out for any of these symptoms. Be sure to record the first sign you see and let your plumber know during their next visit.
When Repiping a House, What Materials Should You Use?
When you repipe your home, you will have a few different options for materials. Most modern homes use copper, PVC, or both for their plumbing.
Copper is a good option because it is a versatile material and it is durable. In addition to these benefits, it is also recyclable and naturally bacteria resistant. However, there is a tradeoff—because of its versatility, durability, and other benefits, it is also an expensive option. When many homeowners see the price they will need to pay to install copper pipes exclusively, they decide to go a different route.
The alternative is polyvinyl chloride pipes, or PVC. Because of their affordability, PVC pipes are an extremely attractive option for many homeowners. PVC pipes are durable like copper, but they also do not corrode. One important note to mention, however, is that PVC pipes do not do well with hot water. In fact, PVC becomes toxic when heated, so be sure that any water lines that carry hot water use chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipes, also known as CPVC.
Is Repiping a House on Your To-Do List? Call Custom Plumbing of Arizona Today
Get in touch with the expert plumbers at Custom Plumbing now to learn what your options are for repiping your home. Contact us, or call 602-883-2761.