A Full Guide To Whole-Home Repiping
Maintenance and repairs are standard parts of homeownership. No matter how durable construction materials and appliances are, they will eventually need to be updated or replaced with equal or better parts. The piping that makes up the plumbing inside of homes is no different. Over the last half of a century, several different plumbing materials have been used to pipe homes. Unfortunately, if pipes were installed 50 years ago, they are all nearing the end of their life expectancy.
When piping gets old and outdated, it becomes more likely that it will fail catastrophically or at least cause damage in the form of leaks or low water pressure that will need to be repaired. Repiping is a process that fixes the problems associated with old plumbing by replacing all of the piping in a home.
Why Repipe a Home?
Homeowners are always looking for ways to save money on repairs that need to be done to a home. Emergency or unexpected repairs can easily bust budgets with surprise costs. When plumbing becomes an issue, it can be expensive to fix. If the root cause is the piping, it may be cheaper to repipe a home instead of paying for numerous repairs that do nothing to treat the underlying problems.
If a home is experiencing frequent problems, repiping may be necessary. Some indicators that a home might need repiping include:
- House is over 50 years old
- High repair costs for multiple pipe bursts or leaks
- Water quality issues
- Low water pressure
Choices for Piping Materials
When repiping their home, homeowners will be consulted about what type of materials they want plumbers to use in the process. Knowing the options and the benefits of each style of piping can help homeowners make smart decisions about repiping their home. The choices of piping material are:
- PVC: A plastic piping choice that has been reliable for nearly 50 years. PVC installs easily and is cheap. It is primarily used in cold water piping because hot water can weaken its joints.
- Copper: Copper has been a popular choice for plumbing for thousands of years. Copper has a long life and conducts heat well for hot water piping. Installation practices can be cumbersome.
- PEX: PEX has rapidly become the first choice for residential piping applications. PEX is easy to install, handles hot and cold water, and the materials are cheap. It is expected to last for around 50 years.
The Repiping Process
Depending on the layout and design of a home, repiping can be an involved process. New piping will need to be run to all of the rooms and fixtures that currently have water service. To accomplish this, plumbers will need to enter attics and crawl spaces and cut holes in walls. When choosing to repipe a home, homeowners must work with a trustworthy plumbing contractor that has experience repiping homes.
Plumbers should be committed to interrupting water service for as little time as possible and limiting the mess they make. By working with a good repiping company, homeowners will experience very little dissatisfaction with their plumbing and can enjoy the benefits of well-installed pipes for decades.
About Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing
Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing is a local, family-run plumbing contractor in Reno. Their personal approach allows them to give each project a unique touch while their training and licensure enable them to handle the biggest plumbing problems. Homeowners can enlist their help to protect their homes with 24-hour emergency service. Call Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing for whole-home repiping in Reno.
