Find Out Why And When You Should Upgrade Your Plumbing

If you live in a home that is more than 10 years old, there is a good chance that your plumbing system needs some work. Pipes get worn out over time and are likely to rust and decay. This is dangerous as the substances produced during corrosion of the pipes can find their way into the water you use in your home. Additionally, your pipes could start leaking, causing serious water damage in your home, which can be quite costly to repair. You might also end up with raw sewage in your home. That is a mess nobody wants to ever have to deal with. Instead of waiting for things to get out of hand, you can get the experts at http://unitedtrades.com/ to do regular inspection and maintenance of your plumbing system to ensure that it is always in good condition. At one point or another, you may have to upgrade your plumbing to replace damaged pipes and remove any materials such as lead that is harmful to your health. Below are some signs to look out for.

1. The material of the pipes

The most common materials used today are PVC, copper, and brass. In the past, galvanized steel, cast iron and lead were the most commonly used materials. With the exception of lead, all these materials are safe to be used at home. However, each has a lifespan that should not be exceeded. Brass, galvanized steel and cast iron each have a lifespan of 80-100 years. Copper has a lifespan of 70-80 years, while PVC has a lifespan of 25-40 years. Find out if your pipes have exceeded their lifespan and replace them if they have. Lead has been shown to be highly toxic and therefore, if your home still has lead pipes, you should replace them as a matter of urgency.

2. Discoloration of water

If you use well water or you live in a rural area, water discoloration should not be a cause for concern. However, if not, then water discoloration is a sign that your pipes need to be replaced. The brown water comes about as a result of pipe corrosion. This means that the water you use and consume contains even more contaminants, and there’s no telling what these can do to your body. If you do not take care of this, mineral deposits can lead to the pipes getting clogged, and this increases water pressure which can eventually result in pipe bursts. In the end, on top of having to replace your damaged pipes, you will also have to deal with the water damage caused. Why wait for things to get this far?

3. Check exposed pipes for the following things

You might have exposed pipes somewhere in the basement or in the boiler room if your house has one. Check these for flaking, discoloration, bumps, dimpling, and any other signs of damage. You should also check for signs of leakage. If you see small pools of water in the basement, you probably have leaking pipes that need to be repaired or replaced. Check for mold and other signs of water damage, and do the necessary repairs before things get out of hand.