Your home’s plumbing ensures a clean water supply and proper drainage. Thus, every homeowner wishes to have a sound plumbing system. However, drainage systems can experience plumbing issues with time.
Lack of proper maintenance, faulty components, age, or temperature fluctuations can lead to plumbing issues. Most of these issues would require you to call a professional for repairs. Professional plumbing companies such as dansplumbing.com.au can help you with your plumbing issues and restore your home’s plumbing system.
Meanwhile, some plumbing problems may not be fixed by repairs and must be addressed again. Hence, several recurring plumbing issues recommend replacement of your plumbing system. The outline below highlights the signs that it’s time to upgrade your home’s plumbing system:
1.Leaks
Leaks are one of the most common indications of plumbing issues. Since pipes tend to wear out with time, they might lead to leaks. Leaks are easier to notice on exposed pipes in utility rooms or basements than on hidden pipes in walls, slab foundations, or ceilings.
Leaks on hidden pipes can cause critical damage before you notice them. If there are no pipe leaks, you can check the leak-prone areas like the kitchen sink, shower, or toilet for wet spots. Common signs of hidden leaks include increased water bills, damaged ceilings or walls, mold, wet spots, or unexplained odours. These signs recommend you call a professional.
However, unfruitful repairs can worsen the leaking problem. Therefore, upgrading your plumbing system would be wise to help deal with the plumbing issues in your home.
2.Contaminated Water
Deteriorating pipes can impact your health and plumbing system. Water that’s yellow, red, brown, or sediment-filled could indicate corroded pipes. Mineral deposits commonly cause pipe corrosion and can cause water flow problems.
Clogged pipes build pressure which might lead to pipe bursts, causing catastrophic damage. Hence, upgrading your home’s plumbing would be best if you have contaminated water from your kitchen or bathroom faucets.
3.Frequent Clogs
Frequent clogs might indicate deteriorating pipes. Since pipes have a lifespan, they might start experiencing recurrent issues as they age. Your old pipes can still experience frequent clogs despite watching what goes down the drain.
Moreover, old pipes can be too weak to handle thicker toilet paper. Therefore, scheduling a home plumbing upgrade would be wise to curb the issue of frequent clogging.
4.Corrosion
It’s best to call a professional to upgrade your home’s plumbing if it clogs up more frequently. Your pipes could be corroding if you witness discoloration, flaking, or stains. Meanwhile, your pipes could get weak and brittle when they rust, making them prone to leaks and damage. If your pipes have started rusting, upgrading your plumbing is crucial.
5.Low Water Pressure
Low pressure on your plumbing system could be due to leaks, clogs, or pinholes that reduce the water pressure. Therefore, it’s crucial to find a professional plumber to analyze the cause of the low water pressure or schedule a plumbing system upgrade to deal with the issue.
6.Age And Material
There are different types of plumbing pipes. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes tend to last long, eliminating the need for pipe upgrades. However, it’s crucial to know their age if your pipes are made from other materials like brass, copper, galvanized steel, or cast iron. Knowing how old your pipes are can help you dictate when to upgrade your plumbing system.
Below are the life expectancies of these pipe materials:
- Brass: 40 to 45 years
- Galvanized Steel: 20 to 50 years
- Copper: 50 years
- Cast Iron: 75 to 100 years
In terms of materials for your plumbing system, they depend on the year your home was built. Modern homes use copper, brass, or PVC pipes for their plumbing system. On the other hand, older homes have galvanized steel, cast iron, or lead. Nevertheless, if you’re in an old house, you need to know the pipe material you have.
However, if you’re in a new house, considering preventative maintenance plans would help avert any future problems. Significantly, an immediate replacement is necessary if your home has lead pipes. Lead is known to be toxic, poisoning anyone exposed to it for long periods.
Conclusion
Investing in your home’s plumbing system is crucial as it’s the source of clean water supply and drains waste out of your home. However, plumbing problems are bound to happen with time.
Repairing your plumbing system can solve some of your plumbing problems. However, recurring problems might recommend you to upgrade your home’s plumbing. Nonetheless, it’s best to schedule an upgrade to your home’s plumbing if it has the above signs.