Are Your Pipes Showing Their Age?
Do you know how many homeowners find out their pipes are old and damaged? They come home to a massive leak one day. Certainly, this is not a nice situation to be in. The pipes need to be repaired or replaced, and you also have a lot of water damage to contend with. If you'd rather make things easier on yourself, then keep an eye on your plumbing system. It is possible to recognize signs of old, worn pipes before the pipes actually crack. Here's what you should be looking for.
Corrosion Around Joints
Go down into the basement or any other area where you can see exposed pipes. Take a look at the areas where two sections of pipe come together. Do those areas look corroded? In other words, is there a buildup of white, mineralized material where the two sections of pipe come together? If you do see corrosion at the pipe joints, there is probably corrosion inside the pipes as well. A plumber can send a camera into the pipes to find out for sure. If they do spot corrosion, you should consider having the pipes replaced.
Low Water Pressure
If there seems to be less and less water coming out of your faucets and taps, this could be a sign that your pipes are due for replacement. You may notice this first in the shower. The stream of water may feel less powerful. Over time, you may also find it takes longer to fill a sink to do dishes or other chores. Often, this is because there are minerals built up on the inside of the pipes. Replacing the pipes can restore your water pressure.
There are other causes of low water pressure, such as less water coming from the public utility. A plumber can rule out these causes before recommending a pipe replacement.
Spots of Moisture
Sometimes a pipe may not completely break or burst. But it may develop some pinhole leaks that cause little moist spots to appear on your walls, floors, or ceilings. If you are noticing some mysterious moist spots, discolored spots, or moldy spots, then this could mean you have some tiny leaks because your pipes are on their way out. A plumber can figure out where these leaks are and tell you whether it's worth replacing your pipes.
Pipes don't last forever. If your pipes are having these problems, then call a plumber.
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