Plumbing emergencies are among the types of household disasters that require immediate attention. Once water begins to leak from a pipe or fixture, your house becomes at risk for further issues such as mold growth and damaged building materials. If the leak or clog involves a sewer line, then you could be facing serious health hazards.
While even minor plumbing problems can feel like a disaster, professional plumbers can often correct them with simple repairs. Tightening a connection on a pipe, clearing a clog and relining aging pipes are all potential repairs that could restore the system’s proper functioning. But, there are times when plumbers have no choice but to recommend replacing the pipes. Exploring a few common plumbing scenarios helps you know how your Daytona plumber arrives at their decision.
Repair Single and Infrequent Leaks
A single leaky pipe is often an isolated event that might have an obvious cause. Over time, pipes can develop small cracks that don’t necessarily impact the entire plumbing system. As a property owner, it’s best to watch out for minor leaks by checking areas beneath sinks and around other water fixtures for signs of water damage.
If you notice bubbling paint, stains on the walls or water on the flooring, then you should suspect that a leak is happening within the interior portions of your house. Arranging for an inspection as soon as possible helps you identify the source of the leak, which a plumber might be able to repair immediately.
Replace Aging Systems With Multiple Leaks
Dealing with three or more pipe leaks within six months to a year is a sign that the entire system is aging to a point where replacement might be necessary. If the leaks all occur along a specific portion of pipe, then it might be possible to only replace that section.
However, many buildings that develop multiple leaks require repiping, since the cause is often related to severe deterioration of the current piping materials that raises the risk of another leak happening in the near future.
Determine If Drain Clearing Is A Viable Solution
A clogged drain or backup in the system can range from a minor inconvenience to a major household catastrophe. Plumbers begin making their diagnosis by identifying the location of a clog. Clogs in a line that runs to the kitchen might just be caused by clearable debris made up of food, grease and other substances. Drain cleaning and clearing services are quick and efficient services that can prevent backups that threaten your health and property.
Sometimes, plumbers discover bigger clogs further down the plumbing lines. Sediment, fats and tree roots are common causes of clogs in the line that are often removable with hydro-jetting services. If the buildup is extremely thick and made up of hardened mineral deposits from decades of use, then there is a chance that the best solution is repiping.
When clogs are a significant issue, you might notice other signs of the problem such as low water flow, temperature fluctuations and banging sounds coming from the system. Repiping can resolve plumbing problems that affect multiple fixtures in your house.
Assess the Overall Water Quality
People often have varying preferences for how water tastes, but you shouldn’t detect any foul or metallic flavors in the fluid that comes out of your home’s faucets. The same is also true regarding water colors. Any rusty, brown or yellow water is a sign that you need to call the plumber to find out the cause.
Older water heaters sometimes develop problems that cause brown or rusty water. You can do a quick test yourself to see if the discoloration only happens when you run the hot water. In this case, you may only need a hot water repair or replacement.
If both temperatures cause the problem, then a plumber will check to see if there is a leak or sediment buildup in the pipes. Depending upon the severity and locations, you could have the option of a basic repair. But, there is a strong chance that repiping might be necessary to replace pipes that are full of corrosion.
Discuss Your Future Plans For the Property
When the biggest problem is aging pipes that require replacement, you might still have options regarding how you tackle pipe replacements. Repiping can add value to your home, which can help offset the cost if you plan to sell in the future. You can also ask a plumber to start with repiping the exposed pipes or ones within the walls that you plan to open up during a remodeling project to get a customized timeline and budget for the project.
Both plumbing repairs and replacements require an expert’s touch. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, our crew works quickly to diagnose plumbing problems and provide property owners with their best options. For a recommendation on pipe repairs and replacement that you can trust, reach out to our team today. We’ll make sure to explain the reasons behind our recommendation and provide you with a full outline of what to expect as we work on your home or commercial building’s plumbing system.