Ways to Know If Your Pipes Need to Be Replaced
Finding a leak on your own without professional help may not be easy, especially if you’re a first-time homeowner. Signs of broken or damaged pipes may not always be as obvious as you might think.
Considering your plumbing system as a whole, thinking about replacing pipes in certain areas of your home like the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room may feel overwhelming. There are a few general rules of thumb to keep in mind when it comes to a plumbing system for any home.
Things to Keep In Mind
Here is some basic information to keep in mind about replacing pipes in your home.
Getting plumbing inspections annually can help prevent unforeseen emergencies.
Regular inspections help save money over time on repairing and replacing pipes.
Annual inspections are necessary for homes at least 50 years or older.
All plumbing naturally goes through wear and tear over time which leads to leaking pipes and bursts.
While all of these factors are generally applied to everyone’s plumbing, here are some additional signs that your plumbing needs extra attention.
1. Discolored Water
Clear-looking water almost always means that there are no issues with your plumbing. But if you run water from the tap or in a shower or tub and the water appears to be a rusted color, yellow, green, black, or any other color, you should call your local plumber to inspect your pipes.
Minerals sometimes get into the water, but older and decaying pipes can cause different colors in your water, so it’s best to get a second opinion.
2. Water Stains on Ceilings or Walls
Have you looked around your house lately and noticed a strange discoloration on your walls or ceilings? Water stains are brown and bleed through paint, especially lighter colored paint.
Water damage on walls and ceilings can also appear as bubbles in wallpaper or peeling paint. If you see these signs for the first time, you should contact a local plumber to inspect and investigate the possibility of a leak or damaged pipe.
3. Cracking
Not visible from the outside, but cracks existing in your pipes behind walls, in ceilings, or underneath the floor means you need a replacement. Although cracks can be very difficult to catch, a professional plumber can catch a crack with routine maintenance and inspections.
Other cracks in pipes may be visible under the sink or in other areas where there are exposed pipes. You can easily see water flowing from a small hole in the pipe, and if you do, you should immediately address the problem.
4. Decreased Water Pressure
After a long day out, you come home to take a shower and notice there’s less water coming out of the showerhead no matter how high you turn the water up; then there is an issue with the pipe that delivers water to your shower.
Decreased water pressure could mean there is a water main issue or there is an internal issue with your home’s pipes. If you always have decreased water pressure, you may need new pipes installed.
5. Grinding and Clanging
Loose pipes will bang together and create a clanging or banging noise. When pipes are loose, they can cause tension that can lead to pipes bending.