Signs It Is Time to Upgrade Your Pipes

It is always wise to replace your pipes before disaster strikes. As your plumbing system ages, pipes suffer wear and tear, and from corrosion. If you live in an old house, you need to need to weigh in the possibility of replacing your pipes. Repairing the damage repeatedly may be more costly than replacing them once.

Signs that Your Pipes Need Upgrading

Do you know what to look for when looking at old pipes? When you notice some of the following signs, it may be your pipes way of saying they need replacement.

Age of the plumbing

You can sometimes tell if your plumbing system needs replacement by the age your house or the pipes. People living in new homes, less than 20 years old, do not typically need to worry about replacing their pipes yet. Anything beyond that could be possible, especially if an older home has never had any pipes replaced.

Pipes made of different materials have different life spans. In the past, people used lead, galvanized steel, and cast iron, which were more resistant with a life span of up to 100 years. Modern home builders use PVC (polyvinyl chloride), brass, and copper pipes. Copper and brass can last for over 80 years while the PVC pipes have shorter lives of 25 to 45 years.

Discolored Water

If your pipes are bringing in discolored water without other underlying factors, it is because of rust. Rust and corrosion can wear out pipes, making them less resistant to pressure. This could cause your pipe to burst, which might result in more extensive damage.

Low Water Pressure

Sometimes your water pressure decreases and you are unable to establish the reason why. If this happens, it is best to seek the services of a professional plumber and have them assess your pipes. Low water pressure could occur because of several reasons. One reason is there could be a blockage in your pipes. Second, it could be due to water leaks. Pipes can burst from hard to locate places, such as within the foundation. When this happens, the foundation of the house can weaken and cause damage to the floor.

If you are not sure whether or not your pipes need replacing, you can assess the condition of exposed pipes, looking for for signs of damage such as flaking, dimpling, and discoloration. Turn to a professional plumbing company to assess the need for replacement instead of repairs. Elk Grove Village Sewer and Plumbing offers you our qualified professionals who can provide top-notch plumbing services at the some of best prices. Don’t hesitate to contact our plumbers for these and other plumbing needs.