Four Important Reasons Why You May Need To Have Your Pipes Replaced
Posted on: 18 May 2016
Your pipes are one of the most important components of your plumbing system. They play a central role in ensuring the safety of water in your home and the proper functioning of your plumbing fixtures.
Depending on the material of your plumbing system's supply pipes, supply pipes may need to be replaced as often as once every 20 years. The following are four of the biggest reasons why a home's pipes need to be replaced.
Because they're made of a potentially hazardous material
In some older homes, pipes that make up the home's plumbing system are made from lead. Lead can possibly leech into the water supply and create health risks for a home's residents.
Lead is not the only pipe material out there that has been used in the past but is currently recognized as problematic. Pipes have also been constructed from a material known as polybutene in the past.
Polybutene is a type of plastic that was used in pipes in buildings built between around the late 1970's and 1995. Polybutene pipes can cause problems because they will gradually deteriorate and can suddenly split apart due to water pressure if they become too weak. If this happens, extensive damage and potential safety risks for a home's residents can result.
If your pipes are made of either of these two potentially hazardous materials, they should be replaced with more modern and healthy pipes made of copper or plastic.
Because they've started to develop leaks and fissures
Eventually, pipes are going to begin to wear out. While individual leaks can be patched up, older pipes may develop extensive leaks that can only efficiently be corrected through pipe replacement.
Because you're remodeling
If you're doing an extensive remodel of your bathroom, it may be a good idea to replace your pipes.
When a remodel is done on a home, important bathroom or kitchen fixtures like sinks and tubs are often relocated. This means that a redesign of pipe layout- as well as replacement of pipes- is likely to increase the overall efficiency of the system. Also, a remodel provides a good opportunity to access pipes to replace them.
Because you're having problems with clogs
Over time, buildup can accumulate in pipes that causes clogs. Initially it may be possible to clear out buildup with a drain or pipe cleaning solution. However, buildup may become too severe in older pipes to allow for effective cleaning to thoroughly remove a clog.
It's important to remember that you risk water damage and mold growth in your home whenever a clog leads to backed up water and moisture control issues.
If you've been noticing frequent clogging, consult with your plumber about whether you should look into pipe replacement for a permanent solution to the problem.
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