The plumbing around your home is supposed to work whenever you need it to. Water comes out of the taps and disappears down the drains without a hitch. At least, that’s what you’re hoping will happen. But sometimes plumbing can develop issues, and severe cases might need more than a spot fix to repair the problem. Replacing the plumbing in your home can seem like a drastic solution, and it’s true that there is often a lot of work involved in replacing sections of pipe. But, if you’re seeing any of the problems we’ll cover in this article, replacement plumbing is the best way to resolve your issues once and for all.
Discoloured Water
Unless you’re drawing on well water, the water coming out of your pipes shouldn’t have any significant colour to it. Brown or yellow water is a major sign that something is wrong with your plumbing system. In some cases, discoloured water is simply due to rust in your hot water tank, other times it can be due to leaks or rust in the pipes themselves. It’s important to address discoloured water as soon as you can. As pipes corrode they begin to collect mineral deposits from the water, eventually leading to blockages, leaks and burst pipes.
Leaky Pipes
Leaky plumbing can be more than a minor inconvenience. Apart from the effect leaks can have on your water bills, they can be hard to find, especially when they happen in your walls or underground. While one or two small leaks isn’t a big issue, if your plumbing is old and leaks are a regular problem, it’s time to consider replacing pipes. It’s the best way to prevent water from damaging plasterboard, the foundations of your home or causing mould to grow.
Plumbers tackle leaks around the home in a few different ways. Talk to a professional about the best option for your home if you’re seeing multiple or regular leaks.
Low Water Pressure
Nothing is worse than turning on the shower and having to deal with a slow trickle. Low water pressure is a common sign that plumbing is past its use-by date and needs to be replaced. Even safe drinking water still carries a certain amount of minerals, natural compounds and contaminants. Over time, those minerals and contaminants can collect on the inside of your pipes, forming deposits that block or slow the flow of water. In some cases, your pipes can be cleaned without the need for replacement, but severe buildups might need more attention.
If your pipes are looking clear but your water pressure is still low, you could have leaks in the system that you can’t see – like in your underground plumbing. These leaks can slow the water that comes out of your taps and have a shocking impact on your water bill, so it’s important to trace and repair them as soon as possible.
Lead Pipes
If you’re living in a house built before 1930, chances are that lead pipes were used to carry drinking water around the home. These days the dangers of lead poisoning are well understood. That wasn’t the case 100 years ago and lead plumbing was common in Australia. If you’re living in an old home with lead plumbing then it should be replaced as soon as possible.
After 1930, lead pipes were replaced with copper plumbing. Copper is far safer as a plumbing material, but early installations used a lead-based solder to make connections. If your home has copper pipes with lead solder, it’s also important to have the plumbing inspected and replaced for the safety of your family.
Is Your Plumbing in Need of an Update? S&J Plumbing and Gasfitting are Brisbane’s Plumbing Experts!
Replacing the plumbing in your home can be a big job, but if you’re seeing regular problems then it might be the best solution. Before you make a decision, it’s a good idea to get a professional opinion. Plumbers can use CCTV to examine your pipes to judge the age and condition of your plumbing. The team at S&J Plumbing and Gasfitting are specialists in all areas of residential and commercial plumbing. We can examine the systems in your home and make sure they’re working properly! Get in touch with us for more information about what we do or if you’d like us to come and take a look at the plumbing around your home.