Like anything else in your home, its pipes will need to be replaced every so often. Ideally, you’ll have them checked every year or two, and they will often need to be replaced every few decades for best results. Of course, it can be difficult to tell exactly when they need to be replaced.
How Old Are Your Current Pipes?
A typical pipe will last for 50 to 70 years assuming that they are properly maintained. It’s possible that you have a mixture of different pipes if your home has been damaged, upgraded, or expanded since it was first built. For instance, older homes tend to have cast iron or copper pipes while newer homes typically use PVC or some other type of plastic material. A professional will be able to identify the type of material used in your home to determine if they have met or exceeded their useful life. If so, it’s generally in your best interest to have them replaced if they show any signs of damage.
How Much Damage Is Present?
Regardless of how old your home’s pipes are, they may need to be replaced if they have suffered extensive damage. For instance, if there are large sections that are cracked, it’s likely going to be easier and less expensive to simply replace them instead of opting for a repair. It’s also worth noting that even if a pipe can be repaired, it may still be weaker than it was prior to being cracked or ruptured.
You May Want to Upgrade Anyway
An older pipe that has suffered minor damage may be fine after a simple repair job. However, you may want to take the opportunity to replace it with something newer that will require less maintenance over the next several decades. Upgrading may also make your house easier to sell or simply allow it to function more to your liking if you plan to stay for the next several years.
What Can You Afford?
Generally speaking, a piece of pipe is relatively inexpensive, and they can typically be found at a local hardware store. Therefore, replacing a pipe might be something that you can do yourself for a few dollars on a Saturday afternoon. However, to replace the pipes in your home, you’ll almost certainly need to hire a professional such as the folks at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.
Therefore, you’ll have to factor in the cost of labor as well as parts, and there is a good chance that a professional would need to cut into walls to get access to certain pipes. This means that you’ll probably spend thousands more to repair drywall and take care of secondary issues related to having your home’s pipes replaced.
Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for Help Today
If you think that you need to have your home’s pipes replaced, don’t hesitate to contact the team at Benjamin Franklin today. We can inspect your home’s plumbing system and provide insight into what your next steps should be. We can then repair or replace any pipes that need work in a timely and affordable manner.