How Often Do I Need to Repipe My Home?

How Often Do I Need to Repipe My Home?

08/29/2016


The pipes in a plumbing system tend to be sturdy, and can last all the way up to a century under ideal circumstances. For most people, though, that’s a little over-optimistic. As resilient as they are, sooner or later all plumbing pipes need to be replaced. Read on for more info on when to repipe your home.

Age

As mentioned above, the absolute maximum lifespan for most plumbing pipes is around 100 years. Most plumbing pipes, however, only last about half that. If your pipes are older than 50 years old, you should have a professional plumber look at them and determine whether or not you need new pipes. The older your pipes are, the more likely they are to leak and rupture.

Wrong Materials

Nowadays, most plumbing pipes are made of copper. This is because of copper’s resistance to rust, and the fact that it doesn’t bleed anything harmful into the water that flows through the pipes. In previous decades, however, plumbing pipes were made of all sorts of materials. Steel, iron, and even lead were all common in the early to mid-twentieth century. Iron and steel are susceptible to rust, and lead bleeds into the water supply. If your plumbing pipes are not constructed of the right materials, it’s a good idea to replace them.

Widespread Corrosion

One or two spots of corrosion are not a major issue. The problem areas just need to be patched, and the pipe is fine. If the corrosion is spread throughout the system, however, you have a significant problem on your hands. At that point, it is probably much better to replace the entire pipe than to patch each and every leak.

Rooter Man offers comprehensive piping services throughout Troy, NY. If you need a plumbing pipe installed, repaired, or replaced, we can help. Call today for an appointment.


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