Are worried about the plumbing and water lines in your home or commercial building? This is a valid concern, and while many pipes and water lines are designed to last for decades, that doesn't guarantee that they won't fail at some point. This type of situation does not happen that often, so you may have trouble knowing when or if your water lines need replacement. There are, however, tell tale signs that can point to the possible need to replace your piping. While these signs do not always indicate that your lines need to be replaced, they are a good warning of coming concerns.
Poor pipe materials
If you have lead pipes or polybutylene pipes, they should be replaced. Lead pipes can cause lead to leak into your water supply. Lead can cause birth defects, physical defects and mental defects. Lead leaking into your water is a problem if the lead in your water exceeds 50 parts per billion. Polybutylene pipes, on the other hand, were very popular from the late 70s to the 90s, and these pipes are extremely prone to break at the most inopportune times. If you have polybutylene pipes in your home they, should be replaced now rather than later because if these pipes ever leak or burst, you could end up with thousands of dollars in damage.
Leaks
If you only have a leak or two, your pipe system and water lines may be fine as a whole, with only the affected pipes needing replacement. However, if you keep finding leaking pipe after leaking pipe over an extended period of time, then your pipes and water lines are deteriorating rapidly. Replacing pipe after pipe can get expensive, so at some point, it is just cheaper to replace the entire system.
Signs of corrosion
If you take a look at the pipes that can be seen readily in your home or business and they all show signs of corrosion, that means they need to be replaced. You can find exposed pipes to check in your basement, attic, and utility room. If your pipes show discoloration, stains, flaking, or any strange pits or bumps, then they have begun to corrode. If you suspect your pipes are corroded, call an expert plumber from Heaney Plumbing & Heating right away.
Low water pressure
This sign could signal a multitude of different plumbing problems. If you have low water pressure, it could be something as simple as hard water mineral deposits blocking your pipes, or it could mean your entire water line system needs to be replaced.
Brown or yellow water
Brown or yellow water has one of two causes. The first and most likely is that your water heater is past its prime and needs to be replaced. The second is, you guessed it, your pipes need to be replaced because they have rusted from the inside out.
Only a professional plumber can determine for certain whether your pipes need to be replaced, but if you have any of the signs shown above, you should contact an expert plumber at Heaney Plumbing & Heating right away for a consultation. Heaney Plumbing & Heating uses years of experience to provide the best plumbing services in Detroit, so no matter what your plumbing problem is, call us today!