| Appliances Bath Building Materials Decor Doors & Windows Electrical Flooring Kitchen Lighting & Fans Lumber & Composites Outdoors Plumbing | Information Of Home Plumbing And Re-PipingIt is common knowledge that all plumbing, however well done, will last only for a few years and the pipes will have to be replaced thereafter. There are many reasons why re-piping will become necessary. Aging or deterioration in the quality of the pipes may cause low water pressure or rusty brownish water, or water seepage through the pipes. If your home is in a hard-water area, lime and other mineral deposits may cause flow problems like slow warming of water to hot or inconsistent water temperatures. In older houses where there are lead pipes, they may present a serious health hazard to children. Plumbing systems do not suddenly create problems. Instead, its failure is gradual as the process of corrosion and scale forming inside and around copper pipes occurs over a period of time. The problems with scale buildup become more noticeable during the warm weather when water consumption is heavy. Activities such as watering the garden, washing the family car or filling the swimming pool require extended periods of water usage. And it is during these times that you are most likely to notice the water flow is not what it should be. Copper and other metals naturally scale with age, reducing the diameter of the pipe and restricting water flow until only a trickle of water is able to pass through. Since there is no way to effectively reverse the scaling process with metallic piping systems, homeowners having no option but to re-pipe the entire system. The question that arises is when one should undertake Re-piping obviously should not wait until the leak starts. As soon as signs associated with degenerating pipes such as flakes of dark material are seen in the water, or the tap water flow becomes thin, or water pressure seems to decrease, it is time to replace the pipes. A good way to determine if your pipes need repair or replacement is the "Flow Test". Turn on multiple faucets in your home and check for a significant drop in water pressure. Make sure to check showers, sinks, and outside faucets at the same time to check your water pressure. If you are unsure, it is best to call a plumber to check them professionally. Re-piping is indeed a major house repair. Plumbing is time-consuming and at least a week of inconvenience in an average sized home is inevitable. You can expect about five days of inconvenience in an average sized home. Plumbing is time-consuming and may entail movement of furniture and opening up and patching of walls and ceilings. The only preparation needed before commencing re-piping work is to clear off any walls or clean out under the sinks and other area, such as closets, where the walls will be opened for the re-pipe installation. There are a variety of materials one can choose from for the re-piping job. Several types of plastic including PVC are available, apart from copper piping. Copper is probably is the right choice, as it expands to accommodate frozen water. |