Every homeowner in Saginaw, TX, should seek regular maintenance of their plumbing systems. It is an essential responsibility that shouldn’t be ignored. The plumbing system comprises the appliances, drain system, and water line. It brings clean water into your home via the water lines and carries wastes into the septic tank or the municipal main sewer system. Hence, a plumbing system is critical for your home’s hygiene, convenience, and comfort.
Repiping is a sizable investment that some homeowners do not look forward to. However, it can give you peace of mind, knowing that you have new pipes installed and that leakages will be an issue of the past. Hiring a plumbing service provider for preventative repiping can significantly reduce the risks posed by multiple repairs and any potential water damage.
However, repiping isn’t a Do It Yourself project. It is a complex process that an experienced plumbing service provider should only handle. Sometimes, the plumbers make such jobs appear easy. However, remember they are trained, experienced, and have the proper tools to handle them efficiently. Before budgeting for it, consult your plumbing service provider on how the repiping will help you with the following:
Lead Toxicity
Assuming your home was built pre-1950s, there is one common concern about your plumbing system: you are better off hiring a plumbing service to inspect the lead pipes further. Today, lead is a known toxin, but that wasn’t always the case. The lead from the piping may dissolve in water, pushing the lead limits way above the safe limits for cooking or drinking water. The maximum lead contaminant levels are capped at 0.015mg/L.
If a plumber tests the water and finds that the lead concentration in your water is above the maximum level, you highly likely have lead pipes. The plumbing service provider can go ahead and inspect the pipes to confirm this, and if true, you don’t have much choice but to replace the lead pipes. Otherwise, you can leave the pipes be. However, even if the lead levels are safe, repiping may still be necessary, especially when you plan to sell your house. Most buyers will not even consider purchasing your home if it has lead pipes.
Abnormal Water Characteristics
Water doesn’t have any noticeable smell. Hence, if you smell any odor, it must be coming from rust, bacteria, dirt, debris, minerals, or any other contaminant that dissolves in water. Additionally, water taste can be affected by abnormalities. Clean water is clear or transparent. If your water has a murky or reddish-brown look, that is a sign of rusty pipes. The rust dislodges from the corroded pipes and is carried by the inflowing water, producing a brown or red tint. You could even see some small rust pieces flowing in the water.
The discoloration is sometimes very fast, and you might not notice it until you begin noticing some discolored spots on your counters, plumbing fixtures, appliances, dishes, or even clothing. Be sure to call a plumbing service provider in Saginaw, TX, immediately if you notice the water discoloration for an inspection of your piping system to determine the extent of the corrosion. Remember, the flaking of the rust from your water pipes weakens them and might eventually result in leaks or pipe bursts.
The abnormalities in water, such as strange taste, odor, or even murky appearance, are subtle and hard to pin down. You could easily dismiss the subtle changes or even convince yourself that you haven’t noticed anything. However, never doubt your perceptions. Instead, seek a pipe inspection immediately if you doubt or suspect that something is amiss. Although the situation might be harmless, you’re better safe than sorry.
Low Water Pressure
If the water suddenly begins trickling from your faucets rather than flowing in the steady stream you are used to, you might have low water pressure. Whenever this happens, filling the glass or your bowl with water takes more time. Additionally, taking a shower may be difficult if the water starts dripping from the showerhead.
Various things may cause low water pressure. Sometimes, this may be caused by using many appliances or turning on multiple taps simultaneously. For instance, when someone is bathing, and water is filling a washing machine or a dishwasher, there might not be enough water flowing in the other taps.
Water pressure loss might also be a result of using old pipes. The corroded pipes are vulnerable to cracks, clogs, and pinhole leaks. The damaged underground pipes pose a significant challenge because it is hard to access or even see them pinpoint the leak or clear the blockage. Hence, you should enlist a plumbing service provider to inspect the plumbing system and fix the underlying issue. Low water pressure is frustrating and could also contribute to other problems.
Poor Water Quality
Broken, worn-out, and corroded pipes can contribute to poor water quality. Fresh, clean water is essential, and poor quality water might affect various other aspects of your home and life. Plain drinking water might have an awful or unpleasant taste, while the beverages or foods made using tap water might not taste right.
Your clothing might look dull and dingy when coming out of the washing machine, while the dishes could have murky areas and water spots or stains. Further, using subpar water for bathing might result in skin irritation or even leave your hair feeling dry and rough. Poor quality water has a high mineral content that might leave serious stains on your plumbing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, faucets, showers, and bathtubs.
Addressing the root cause of the poor quality of water is the perfect way of improving your situation. You can enlist a plumbing service provider in Saginaw, TX, to inspect the plumbing system for leaks and replace or fix the broken or cracked pipes. The plumber can also remove any clogs, clean the drainage system, and resolve any underlying issues your damaged pipes may cause.
Repiping is a complex and expensive task, but it may be the only option, especially if you live in an old house that still uses lead or steel pipes. Instead of paying for frequent repairs, all the old pipes are replaced with new ones made of high-quality materials for an intact plumbing system. There are many types of plumbing pipes, as we’ll see later.
Hidden Leaks
Worn-out old pipes buried under the floor or behind the walls pose a specific challenge. They are hidden and might go unnoticed until you see damp spots of a high water utility bill at the end of the month. Although the constant drip sound is an obvious sign, it is still hard to pinpoint the exact point where the noise is coming from. However, using the tools and experience, a plumbing service provider can locate the leaky pipe and fix it immediately to avoid damage to the structural integrity of your home.
However, that might not be the end of the problem. If one of the pipes is damaged or worn out, the others probably are also in bad shape. Hence, you may have to consider repiping if more leaks arise in other various places. Damp spots and water stains on the floor, ceiling, or walls are a sign that there is a leaking pipe. Immediately you see these signs, call an emergency plumber to have the issue fixed.
Types of Pipe Materials For Your Repiping Project
Cast Iron
If you ask your plumbing service provider in Saginaw, TX, about cast iron, they’ll probably characterize it with durable, strong products such as cast iron pipes and skillets. Though cast iron plumbing pipes have their advantages, they also have their downsides, the primary one being corrosion. The accumulation of rust in cast iron pipes is called tuberculation. The minor superficial rust spots might be a small cosmetic issue.
However, corrosion doesn’t stop or remain static on iron pipes or other metallic structures. It will spread all over the other metallic surfaces eating through the piping walls. The unchecked rust also corrodes the iron pipe walls, eventually compromising their structural integrity. The corroded pipes are always vulnerable to fractures, hairline cracks, and pinhole leaks. However, small leakages might accelerate the rusting, resulting in larger leaks within a relatively short time.
Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX)
PEX pipes are relatively new. They are designed for longevity and durability. Their installation generally takes a smaller duration than installing iron or copper pipes. Because PEX pipes are color-coded, rapid installation is possible. Saginaw, TX, a plumbing service provider, can easily connect the PEX pipes without glue or soldering.
Because they are made from a flexible material, it is easy to cut the PEX pipes to your desired length. This flexibility also allows the cross-linked polyethylene pipes to expand and contract. Hence, the frozen PEX pipes are likely to resist bursting from the pressure. When it comes to extreme fluctuations in temperature, PEX pipes are the best choice.
PVC
Because of their various issues, cast iron pipe’s popularity started falling in the 1970s, though some homes were still using them. PVC pipes started rising in popularity and eventually overtook the cast iron pipes as the most used plumbing pipes in commercial and residential premises. Today, PVC pipes are among the most popular materials for drainage systems and various residential plumbing uses.
They are lighter than various other pipes, and installing them is also pretty easy compared to metallic pipes such as those made from galvanized steel. When the plumbing service provider in Saginaw, TX, is installing the metallic pipes, soldering is almost inevitable. However, glue and solvents are used for connecting the PVC pipes. The PVC pipe’s diameters are usually written clearly on the surface. You can also use PVC pipes as a stack, the pipe which protrudes from the roofline though it does not supply water.
Copper
The copper pipes are recognizable and common in residential settings. Copper is durable, easily handled, and efficient. The flexible copper pipes are perfectly suited for running water into water heaters, refrigerators, and other short distances. As you might have guessed, these pipes can be bent to accommodate the corners and maneuver into the cramped spaces. However, the main drawback of using flexible copper pipes is that they do not withstand extreme temperatures. Therefore, flexible copper is not suited for outdoor uses.
On the other hand, the rigid copper piping is resistant to corrosion and is usually thicker and longer than flexible copper. The copper pipes might need to be soldered where they connect to the next pipe. However, always enlist a licensed and professional plumbing service provider to repair or install the copper pipes. Remember, some of the soldering solutions contain lead, a particularly toxic hard metal. Lead might leach into your water supply if not used properly. Fortunately, you can avoid this by using silver-based or low-lead solder.
ABS
These pipes are pretty similar to the PVC pipes. However, all the ABS pipes have a black color. ABS pipes are usually used for drains and vents. Unfortunately, ABS pipes are banned or limited to only a few uses by the plumbing codes. Your plumbing service provider in Saginaw, TX, clearly understands if the ABS pipes are allowed for a particular use. ABS pipes are an older kind of PVC, and these pipes aren’t used often in many homes nowadays. The homes with ABS pipes frequently seek plumbing services to replace them with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes.
Galvanized Steel
These pipes are common in old homes. The steel pipes are heavier, thicker, and have higher durability than other piping materials. Galvanized steel pipes are threaded on both ends and are joined using the connecting joints. Most of the galvanized pipes have a metallic layer coating. Although the coating might rust, it protects the pipe from corrosion.
Hence, the coating might eventually wear out, leaving the pipe exposed to corrosion agents. If you notice rust particles or discolored water, that is a sign that the steel piping has begun rusting. The steel pipes aren’t often used in new plumbing because they are hard to manage and heavy, making it difficult for a plumbing service provider to replace or repair.
Top-Notch Plumbing Services
Although repiping is an expensive undertaking, sometimes it is the only option to avoid some of the above plumbing issues. Fortunately, you can hire a plumbing service provider to complete the repipe job. The professionals will use a wide range of pipes, mostly PEX, PVC, and CPVC pipes. Call us at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth today for repiping and other plumbing services.