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Your home plumbing system is full of intricately connected systems that require maintenance from a professional plumbing service. Plumbing systems last an average of 17 to 100 years. The lifespan of your plumbing systems largely depends on the materials used to compose your system and how well you maintain it. Maintaining your plumbing system will require the help of a professional and local plumbing service company. Experience and training is what your plumbing system needs to stay in good shape. A well-maintained plumbing system is valuable and can help you save money. Maintaining and improving upon your plumbing system is a good way to increase property value. If you live in or around the Mansfield, TX area, contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for any and all of your plumbing needs.
In order to properly maintain your plumbing systems, it would be beneficial for you to get to know your plumbing system better. A better understanding of your plumbing systems can help you make better decisions when it comes to contacting plumbing service professionals for regular maintenance and repair calls. Experts suggest having your plumbing system professionally maintained at least once a year. If you have an older plumbing system a bi-annual routine maintenance check may be more suitable for your property. It’s best to consult with your professional plumbing service provider to get an accurate understanding of your plumbing systems needs.
Plumbing System Materials
There are many different materials your plumbing system can be made out of. The materials to make plumbing systems have drastically changed over time. Due to the lifespan potential of plumbing systems and the average age of homes and properties in the US, the materials plumbing systems vary drastically across the board.
Cast Iron
One of the most common plumbing system materials used is cast iron pipes. Cast iron pipes are large heavy metal pipes. These plumbing fixtures are typically used for drainage. There was a point in timer where cast iron pipes were used in other aspects of the plumbing system as well. Cast iron pipes last the longest. The average lifespan for cast iron is between 80 and 100 years. Cast iron pipes are good investments for the drainage system due to how long it lasts.
Cast iron pipes are becoming rarer in modern buildings and homes. Cast iron pipes make a great waste pipeline material and are rarely used for water supply, except in really old homes. Even then, cast iron pipes used in water lines may not be suitable for human use. Iron pipes are suitable for a high amount of water pressure but tend to become rusted. Rust is toxic for human use and consumption. Most cast iron pipes are being repaired with pieces of plastic PVC pipes. PVC pipes are on the rise as the go-to pipe material for plumbing systems. If your home is still using cast iron pipes as its main source of pipe material, you may need to have it inspected for rust. If your pipes are rusty then you will need to have a plumbing service replace those pipes as soon as possible.
A sign that your pipes are rusting is by the color of the water that comes out of your faucet. If the water is brown, that could indicate a gathering of rust in your water supply system. The water passes the rusty pipes and transfers it into your drinking, bathing, and cleaning water. This is detrimental to your health and must be addressed immediately.
Unfortunately, replacing your rusted cast iron piped with more cast iron is a bad idea, especially in the water supply pipe system. Cast iron is also a very unsuitable and difficult material to manipulate. Cast iron requires extremely sharp, special tools to cut. This would make their replacement and installation unnecessary, expensive and hard to install. If you do want to use cast iron in your plumbing system, you should only consider using it for your waste pipeline systems. If you live in or around Mansfield, TX, contact a professional plumbing service, such as Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, to help you replace or repair your cast iron pipe systems.
Copper
Copper is a slightly costly material. However, it is completely worth the cost. Unfortunately, copper does have a tendency to rust in a similar fashion as the cast iron pipe materials do. Copper pipes last for a long time. Similar to iron pipes it can last for 80 to 1000 years. Copper is also a healthy pipeline to use for your water line because water sometimes absorbs the particles of copper, which is a mineral that humans need in there to survive. Once copper piping becomes rusty, however, you will need to replace the piping as soon as possible. Rusting is unsuitable for all human interactions.
Copper pipe is a sturdy yet flexible material. Copper is a soft metal that is easy to cut and fit your plumbing fixtures. It is one of the most expensive plumbing materials due to its longevity. It’s an easy installation and long life span make it a covetable plumbing material to use. Copper metal piping is usually dull in color and prone to damage due to its soft nature. Proper maintenance is important when using copper piping. You should have a routine plumbing service professional inspect and repair your copper piping on an annual or bi-annual basis to ensure you get the maximum life out of your copper piping systems.
Copper piping is actually a very sound home investment. Copper piping in your plumbing can raise the value of your home. The rising cost of copper piping over the year