Repiping Your Home | Plumbing in Fort Worth

Eventually, the plumbing in any home will need to be replaced. Your home’s plumbing is an essential for modern living and safety. When water pipes experience frequent leaks, low water pressure due to corrosion, it is time for repiping your home. The following are signs that your home’s plumbing in Fort Worth May need replacing:

High Water Bills and Leaks

High water bills typically indicate a leak in the plumbing system. While there may be other causes of leaks, the need for repiping is common. Leaking pipes are not always an event you can see, as hidden leaks are out of sight until damage occurs. When leaks are recurring it is best to plan for repiping of your home’s plumbing in Fort Worth before serious damage occurs in your home, and its foundation.

Discolored Water

Discolored water often occurs when you first turn a tap on. While there can be other potential causes of discolored water, if your home has galvanized, steel pipes it is likely the culprit behind discolored water due to pipe corrosion. Corroded galvanized pipes are not only prone to leak; they can provide contaminated water. When your home’s plumbing in Fort Worth is galvanized, steel piping, it should be replaced as soon as possible.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure makes it difficult to shower, or to catch water up. When you notice that the water isn’t coming out of your showerhead or sink faucets in the quantity that it used to, check for leaks at the water meter. You can do this by writing the reading down, and checking it 30 minutes later with no water being used in the home. If the numbers have changed, you have a leak. Otherwise, it is likely your home’s plumbing in Fort Worth will need replacement.

Age

How long a home’s piping will last depends upon a number of factors, such as water chemistry, the type of pipe material and the quality of the installation. However, regardless of age, if your home has polybutylene (plastic pipe in blue, black or gray), or lead piping, it should be replaced immediately. Lead is toxic and harmful, and can lead to mental and physical developmental delays in children age 6 or under.

Signs of Corrosion

Examination of exposed pipes may show the following signs of corrosion, indicating your home’s plumbing in Fort Worth needs replacement:

• Dimpling
• Discoloration
• Flaking
• Staining

Pipe Materials

There are a number of reliable modern pipe materials to select from for your home’s plumbing in Fort Worth. A brief overview of common pipe materials follows:

Copper Pipe

Copper pipe has been used within the U.S. for decades. Copper piping offers the following advantages:

Clean Water

Copper pipe is lead free, and is biostatic, which inhibits the growth of bacteria. It is resistant to corrosion and ultraviolet light, making it a suitable pipe material for outdoor use. Copper pipe provides some flexibility facilitating a speedier installation and enabling long pipe runs and fewer joints. Soldering provides a strong bond to joints that resists corrosion.

In addition, copper is more durable during natural disasters, such as earthquakes, when other piping, such as PVC could break. Furthermore, copper will not release toxic gases in a fire, will not rust, and will resist freezing when installed below the frost line. Copper is recyclable, with a service life of 50 – 75 years under normal conditions.

Disadvantages of Copper

Copper is not recommended for use with water with a low pH. Acidic water, such as hard water, for example, will reduce the lifespan of copper piping. Furthermore, the cost of copper piping has risen significantly, and requires the expertise of a qualified plumber for proper installation, and to provide reliable plumbing in Fort Worth. Benjamin Franklin plumbers in Fort Worth offer the expertise that assures quality installation.

PVC/CPVC

CPVC is engineered to carry hot water and is stronger than PVC, which is only for cold-water distribution. Its advantages are as follows: PVC/CPVC pipe is easier to install than copper, as joints connect with specialized glue, rather than solder, and it has slight flexibility. It is lightweight, and easy to cut, though proper cutting and preparation are essential for the best bond of joints. PVC/CPVC is suitable for areas where corrosion of metal pipe materials is common. PVC/CPVC pipe offers a lifespan of 75 to 100 years under normal conditions.

CPVC/PVC Disadvantages

Requires a number of fittings for joints, and requires some bracing.

PEX Pipe

PEX pipe is a new pipe material in the U. S., being in use for the last 20 years.

PEX pipe is exceptionally easy to install. The extreme flexibility of PEX allows the installer to route the pipe around obstacles, requiring fewer fitting and allowing long pipe runs. The fittings are of compression type and are fast and easy to install. Its flexibility makes it tolerate of freeze and thaw. PEX will freeze, though its flexibility makes it less likely to burst than other pipe materials. In addition, PEX cannot corrode or rust, and connects with metal and PVC/CPVC pipe with special adaptors. PEX has a lifespan of 75-100 years under normal conditions.

PEX Disadvantages

Installation generally requires bracing and support. PEX is susceptible to ultraviolet light, and is unsuitable for outdoor plumbing in Fort Worth.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing’s expert plumbers provide reliable services for your home or business’ plumbing in Fort Worth, including repiping your home. We provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our plumbing services. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing serves Fort Worth, Arlington and the surrounding areas, and is a member of the BBB with an A+ rating.