When Is It Time to Replace My Piping?

Replacing the piping system in your home at Rancho Cucamonga is one of the biggest home repairs you’ll encounter. However, when faced with issues, most people don’t know when to call professionals. This is why it’s essential to know the right time to call a plumber in Rancho Cucamonga.

The Importance of Replacing Piping Regularly

Fixing pipe problems is not just for the safety of your property and family, but it’s also about saving water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 10 percent of all homes have water leaks, leading to 90 gallons or more of water being wasted each day. This amounts to 10,000 gallons of water a year, or 270 loads of laundry. 

Even a small tear in your hose can lead to wasting 6,300 gallons of water per month. That said, fixing even the tiniest of leak problems can save about 10 percent of your water bill. 

Not to mention, keeping old and corroded pipes can become a danger to your home and lives later on, not to mention expensive. When the blockages become severe, water pressure can build in your pipes and can lead to tearing, rupturing, or bursting. Burst pipes are very dangerous.

Also, if the quality of your pipe’s walls are compromised, it can cause heavy metals or other harmful materials to dislodge from your pipes and leak into your water supply. This can damage your water appliances, make cleaning difficult, and even make your water undrinkable.

This should be something to consider especially if you live in an older home. If you have a piping system that was installed before the 1980s, they may have harmful lead components. If this is the case, you should be preparing for a thorough piping replacement.

Why Do Pipes Wear Out?

While pipes are built to last, they don’t last forever. Over time, older pipe walls can develop corrosion or build-ups of scale and other materials. This can affect your water pressure, as it stops the momentum needed and can even lower the performance of your water-based appliances.

There are several reasons why pipes get eroded over time.

• Material of the pipe. Metal pipes are vulnerable to rusting. Pipes made of galvanized steel can become corroded, which results to the formation of pinhole leaks. The same is true with copper pipes, especially at the seams and joints. These lead to larger leaks that progress until the pipes fail completely. So far, PVC and PEX pipes are the most durable of them all.
• Chemical makeup of water. Highly acidic water destroys pipes easily, eating away at metal surfaces and results in chemical leaching, no matter if it’s metal or plastic pipes.
• Temperature. Pipes are more prone to erosion when continually exposed to high heat. Because of this, pipes in hot water and steam lines get easily corroded compared to pipes in cold water lines.
• Velocity and water pressure. Water travelling in high velocity leads to high  water pressure, which in turn makes erosion faster on pipe walls. The micro-sandpaper effect brought on by the dissolved solids in the water scrapes the inside walls until cracks and leaks form. 

How Long Do Pipes Last?

This will depend on the material that your pipes are made of, which is why pipes in older homes deteriorate more quickly. These are the materials used for pipes and their corresponding life span:

• Copper: 50+ years
• Brass: 40 to 45 years
• Cast Iron: 75 to 100 years
• Galvanized Steel: 20 to 50 years
• PVC piping: Can last indefinitely

The latest pipe material that is fast becoming popular among property owners is the PEX pipe, which is a cross-link of polyethylene, a material that is durable, flexible, and non-corrosive when used as a water piping system.

If you want to make your pipes last, consider getting PEX repiping services. After all, PEX pipes can last for a minimum of 40 years, and are more flexible compared to other pipes. This makes it easier to install, which can lower costs.

You may think that these are long years, but you also have to consider joints, fittings, and mechanical components that go with your plumbing system. If these are already old and faulty, it can also become a factor for leaks and water backups.

How to Tell If My Pipes Are Already Corroded?

Fortunately, if your pipes are already bad, it’s almost impossible to miss. If your water has a rusty color, it means your pipes already have extensive corrosion. Don’t drink it. This also means that you have a considerable problem and that you need to arrange for repiping services, especially if you have copper or other types of water pipes.

The tricky part is when your pipes are somewhere in between good and terrible, as it’s harder to tell if your pipes are corroded in this state. If this is the case, you will have to do some troubleshooting and ask yourself the following:

• Are your toilet and drains more clogged up than usual?
• Are you having trouble fixing minor problems?
• Is your water pressure inconsistently low?
• Is your water bill higher than you expected, especially if your usage has remained the same?
• Are your pipes leaking a lot recently?

If your pipes are clogging up a lot or leaking, plus your water pressure just won’t get better no matter how you try to fix it, it’s more likely that your pipes are already corroded.

What Should You Do About Your Worn-Out Pipes?

The best way to handle any plumbing-related problems is to call for professional plumbing services.

During consultation, your plumber will be able to tell you what your pipes are made of, when they are made, and it’s overall condition so far. If it’s just a minor problem, your plumber will most likely be able to fix it in a non-invasive way.

Whether it’s a tree root that grew into your sewage system, or an appliance that simply got pushed or bumped, a plumber can get these fixed in no time. Even if your plumber advises you to go for a total pipe replacement, you’ll still be able to choose a solution that suits your needs and budget.

Get the Best Care for Your Pipes

If you are unsure about the state of your pipes, why not do away with the guessing game and call for a Rancho Cucamonga pipe break repair service for your peace of mind? 

Bobby Blue Plumbing has been in the service business for more than 10 years in the Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana area. Give us a call immediately for same-day service at your commercial or residential building, 24/7.