As a homeowner, you should always be aware of the state of your building, especially when it comes to the underlying infrastructure. From the various piping and plumbing to the literal foundation and walls, the value of your home is directly tied to how well you maintain all aspects of the structure.
How Impactful is Repiping vs Repairing?
Even though you use some aspects of your home’s plumbing every single day, you probably don’t realize just how involved the entire piping system is. You have water moving to and fro, up and down, left and right, and all at high speeds. Having secure piping is important not only to ensure that you get water when you need it, but also to prevent damage that can occur due to possibly damaged or broken piping. In those instances, you should know whether to simply repair a segment, or repipe it entirely. The wrong choice could end up being more costly than you think.
How Long Does Piping Last?
Typically, your home’s piping is meant to last a long time. If you are in fairly modern building, you should expect piping to last for decades at a time. That being said, different portions of piping can experience different levels of wear and tear depending on where they’re located in the building. The biggest issue with piping is that, for the most part, you’re not actually able to physically see it. It’s often hidden behind walls, and you can only see exposed piping in your basement or attic. However, there are some indicators of leaked or damage piping you can be on the lookout for to know if you have some sort of issue.
Low Water Pressure
Even in a fairly new home, it’s possible you might experience low water pressure from time to time. There are a lot of factors out of your control that might contribute to this. However, be on the lookout for consistent issues with pressure. If you notice a continuous decline, this could be a sign that there is a leak somewhere in the piping.
Stains
Be mindful of any type of unexpected coloration, especially if you have white walls. Smaller brown stains in certain areas are probably tied to to a leak (big or small) with the piping in the immediate vicinity. Fortunately, if you do see this, you’re able to act on it right away, but don’t let it linger, especially since you might not know just how big the leak is.
Should You Repipe or Repair?
The big question, unfortunately, doesn’t have an easy answer. It really is a situational decision. Depending on the size of a leak, it’s very possible that a quick repair could fix the current issue and prevent further ones. However, if you do notice a consistent problem, this is a bigger indicator that you will need repiping. While it is more expensive and timely, it’s also going to save you a lot of money in the long run as a burst pipe and extensive water damage is going to be far worse.