Why You Need To Replace Old Piping

Why You Need To Replace Old Piping
  • Author: Fazal Umer
  • Posted On: July 29, 2021
  • Updated On: July 4, 2023

Unless you recently had your home built or it’s only a few years old, your plumbing may be out of date. Pipes are exposed to the environment over time, which causes corrosion, rust, and eventual failure.

You’re not required to live in perpetual fear of a leak or raw sewage running beneath or through your home or basement. Consider the following reasons to replace your home’s plumbing before disaster strikes:

1. Water Leakage

If you’ve ever had to deal with random leaks, you’re familiar with the cost of repairs. As a result of irregular leakage, the frequency of leaks in your system increases. While rebuilding the entire system may be costly, the cumulative effect of those ongoing repairs and the damage they create may ultimately save you money.

Even if an older property’s plumbing has been significantly repaired, repairs are only a temporary, partial remedy unless the system’s been replaced with more modern piping.

Some of the plumbing is likely to leak due to its age or imperfect condition. If you want to avoid future issues, opt for a complete replacement. You can do this by getting a sewer lining equipment to help replace or reline your pipes.

You can also hire a plumbing company to resolve your property’s water leakage problem. Professional and experienced plumbers have the right equipment, skills, and knowledge to ensure this problem won’t recur soon. Hire a local plumbing and relining service company with good reputation and verified credentials.

2. Discoloration

Unless you’re under a boil order, have well water, or live in a rural region, discolored water is usually not a cause for alarm. Corrosion in your pipes leads to the formation of rust, which then results in brown or dark water.

However, discolored water is most probably contaminated. So, it’s important to check water quality, especially if it’s used for bathing, cooking, and drinking. Never compromise your health and safety.

Mineral deposits can choke pipes and cause pressure to rise if left unchecked. Due to the persistent pressure, the pipes will eventually fracture, inflicting catastrophic damage. If you feel your pipes are rusting or corroding, contact a certified technician immediately.

3. Pipe Material And Life Expectancy

Examine the plumbing in your property to discover the type of piping material utilized. Different materials have varying life spans and produce different issues. When you purchased the property, an appraisal or inspection report would have specified the piping material used.

For example, antique homes were constructed using clay, which degrades far faster than modern materials.

While long life cycles may appear remarkable, you must also examine the pipe joints, fittings, and mechanical components that connect your plumbing to the fixtures in your home. Outdated or malfunctioning fixtures and connections can cause leaks and backups of water.

If your plumbing system is outdated or too old, chances are it’s blocked or damaged inside. You’ll notice problems such as slow water pressure and visible leaks or flooding. So, it’s important to repair or replace pipes as soon as possible to avoid major flooding. Leaks and flooding cause water damage, mold, and structural problems.

The latest technology in pipe lining is cured-in-place pipe (CIPP). This pipe lining method is a trenchless rehabilitation technology in repairing existing pipelines. It’s also called jointless or seamless pipe lining that eliminates time-consuming and widespread ground excavation.

Pipe Material And Life Expectancy

4. Tree Root Troubles

Consider the pipes outside when looking into pipe replacement. Tree roots can wreak havoc on your plumbing if your home is surrounded by dense foliage and trees. You have to look after the water and sewer systems on your property.

Your responsibility for the water lines begins at the street meter and continues throughout your property. You’re responsible for the sewer pipe that runs from your residence to the street meter—the older the lines, the more likely it is that older trees with potentially dangerous roots are close.

Plumbing and drainage drain and pipe relining services also prevent and repair tree root intrusion, aside from relining specific pipe lengths. In addition, specialists also repair cracked, broken, missing pipe sections, and badly aligned pipes.

5. Constant Low Water Pressure

It might be challenging to determine the exact cause of low water pressure in the shower or sink. Your plumbing system may be merely blocked, or it may have leaks or pinholes in it, resulting in low water pressure. Additionally, leaky pipes can wreak havoc on your foundation and framing, resulting in wood rot and mold growth.

Mold also degrades the quality of your indoor air, which cannot be remedied without the use of devices such as an air purifier. First, you may wish to try conventional drain cleaning to determine whether that can resolve the issue. Persistent problems necessitate the assistance of a plumber or another qualified professional.

6. Substandard Plumbing

In an ideal world, you’d be able to go over to your sink, turn on the faucet, and have water flowing out of it without a problem. However, if you have plumbing issues or damaged pipes, it’s only a matter of time before your plumbing fails and your water lines burst. Historically, many homes had galvanized steel plumbing systems, but those can clog and corrode.

Substandard plumbing is dangerous, and it may result in your home being without running water. Regrettably, the aforementioned issues frequently manifest themselves when you’re in dire need of running water. That’s why it’s necessary to replace polyethylene and galvanized piping as soon as possible.

7. Clogging

Even with regular maintenance, any skilled plumber will tell you that avoiding obstructions in the plumbing for more than half a century is complex. Years of sewage and soap scum may clog and block the drains on an older property, filling and clogging them with filth.

8. Corrosion

Corrosion occurs in all metals, including galvanized steel. Corrosion of the zinc covering on galvanized pipes exposes the bare iron to rust. If left unchecked, the water may become orange and become unfit for human consumption.

Takeaway

You and your plumber may be able to replace a plumbing component or the entire system, regardless of whether it’s galvanized or cast iron. Consider replacing old pipes if possible. By replacing all of them simultaneously, you can save time and money.

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Author: Fazal Umer

Fazal is a dedicated industry expert in the field of civil engineering. As an Editor at ConstructionHow, he leverages his experience as a civil engineer to enrich the readers looking to learn a thing or two in detail in the respective field. Over the years he has provided written verdicts to publications and exhibited a deep-seated value in providing informative pieces on infrastructure, construction, and design.

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