When Is Repiping Necessary?

The Myths Of Repiping A Home

The process of repiping a home is a rather unique and mysterious one for many people. For most, the name is self-explanatory, but there are a variety of myths and assumptions people make that are usually incorrect. For example, most people assume that only houses from the 1800s’ or 1900s’  are prime candidates for repiping. Similarly, houses that were built or renovated in the 1950s’ require repiping at some point. But the truth is these assumptions can be right or wrong depending on the particular house. The bottom line is, any house can require repiping if necessary. Not sure what is required? Here are a few things to know about repiping that will give you a better idea:

What Is Repiping?

While it may be self-explanatory, the process of repiping a home is a lot more complex. On the surface, this process is simple: taking out all the old pipes in the home and replacing them with new ones. Essentially, the process completely renovates a home’s plumbing, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, certain sections of the home or plumbing system will need replacing while others are completely fine. This means that the specifics of a repiping job are going to vary, depending on the home. Repiping also depends on a variety of factors like the home’s age, quality of the plumbing, history of upkeep, and more. What kind of home is a good candidate?

The Perfect Unperfect Home

You can’t tell whether a home needs repiping or not until you do a little investigating. On the surface, a home may appear completely fine. On the inside, however, the pipes may tell a different story. Any pipe that is cracked, rusted, or is beyond repair is a good candidate for replacement. When there are enough of these pipes in a home, a complete repiping project is warranted. Typically, you need a professional to look at the home’s plumbing to make the final diagnosis. However, there are plenty of symptoms and signs that you can look out for to get a good idea of whether the home is a good candidate or not. Here are a few things to look out for:

 

The Signs And Symptoms

The easiest way to determine whether a home is a good candidate without calling a professional plumber is to look at the pipes yourself. Start with any room that has access to water. Rooms like kitchens and bathrooms provide easy access to check out your plumbing. Look under the counters and sinks of these rooms to see what condition the pipes leading up to the faucets, toilets, showers, and washers are like. If you have access to utility spaces, check out these pipes as well. Sometimes, you can also see external pipes on the outside of the home, especially where it hooks up to anything like a water meter. Unfortunately, the types of pipes you have access to may be limited. Try running the water to see if it flows properly as well. If there are any issues, lack of pressure, or complete stoppage, chances are there is an issue somewhere in your plumbing that needs attention. This doesn’t necessarily mean a complete repiping project is required, but you might need to call a professional for a more concise assessment.

Getting The Job Done

If a complete repiping project is required, the first step you need to take is to call the professionals. These kinds of projects can be extremely time consuming and expensive, especially when done by yourself. If you don’t have the proper experience or knowledge to tackle such a project, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by leaving it up to someone more experienced. A professional plumber or company will be able to accurately assess what kind of repiping is needed in order to get your plumbing back up to tip-top shape. Start the process today by calling us for more information. You can also find out specifics about the services we offer on our website.