5 Signs That You Need Brand New Plumbing
Category: Plumbing
Over time the wear and tear on your home’s plumbing is considerable. With all of the daily activity from your entire family and the constant running of water through your system, your plumbing will eventually deteriorate and need to be replaced. In some cases, partial replacement may solve the problem. For some plumbing systems, however, comprehensive repair is imperative. When deciding whether or not to update your plumbing it is important to remember that plumbing and hardware upgrades greatly add value to your home and increase it’s longevity. Although total system replacement is a major investment, it can also payoff in the long run.
Faulty Hardware and Ongoing Maintenance
If your pipes and fixtures completely lose their finish or if the plumbing chips and rust can’t be removed then it’s clearly time for an upgrade. Old faucets, pipes, and fixtures ruin your bathroom’s appearance pose a potential hazard to your family’s health, especially if metal shavings are chipped off and enter the water stream. The best idea is to call a professional plumbing installation company to perform a thorough inspection and then install brand new faucets and fixtures in order to keep your environment truly safe and clean. You’ll also notice an instant improvement in the way your bathroom looks.
Poor Drainage and Water Flow
Leaks and damaged waterlines also can be a clear sign that you need new pipes. If you find that you are constantly dealing with dripping, power water flow, and drainage issues – no matter how many times you’ve used drainage chemicals – then there are problems that require more than just a quick fix. Other issues may be standing water around your pipes, in the sink or tub, or puddles around the toilet. In normal conditions these issues can generally be fixed using standard methods with relatively little effort. With a terminally weak system, however, they won’t just go away. They get worse over time.
Low Water Pressure
Many times it’s assumed that low water pressure is an indication of a bad water pump. But this isn’t always the case. If the water in your shower doesn’t come out as strong as it should, it could indicate that your plumbing may be suffering from long term corrosion. Over time, galvanized steel pipes start to degrade and their diameter narrows, causing water volume to decrease. This can affect sinks, tubs and the refill rate on a toilet, but you’ll notice it most often in showers when the pressure and volume of water lowers. This problem often requires full pipe replacement.
Contaminated Water
Water that contains rust or has an odor can also be a sign that it’s time for new plumbing. You water heater can be a big generator of contaminated water. Water heaters contain items known as anodes which are steel cores covered in aluminum, zinc or magnesium. Corrosive and bacterial elements present in a hot water tank are attracted to the anodes and avoid entering the rest of the plumbing. As the rod gets older and weakens it stops functioning as it should and can be the cause of rust-colored or smelly water. In this case, a new water is the best solution.
Mold and Algae
If you observe mold and algae in your bathroom, there’s a good chance that there is serious damage to your pipes. Mold, especially on the walls or ceiling, indicates water is running where it shouldn’t — and where you can’t see it. The sooner you find the source of the water leak and deal with it, the better. In addition, look for wet pieces of wall or ceiling if you suspect a water problem. These are the precursors to mold, but may not be apparent right after a shower or bath. Wait a few hours and check your bathroom again. If there are wet spots on your walls or ceiling or water on your floor, you have a leak, and you need a professional plumber.
