Regardless of the condition of your home, plumbing problems can persist even after they have been repaired. A simple repair may no longer be enough to fix the issue if additional damage has since occurred. In this scenario, home repiping may be required, which involves switching your old plumbing system to a new one. During this process, we can help you determine if repiping is necessary and which pipe materials would work best for your home. Along with the standard plumbing work, this process can involve demolition and reconstruction work as well. Before you request our plumbers for this job, you might want to know more about the process of repiping a home.
When to Consider Repiping Your Home
Repiping a home is a serious project that can be requested for several different reasons. For instance, older homes that were constructed before World War II were regularly built with galvanized steel as the piping material of choice. Over time, however, it was found that galvanized pipes can become corroded quickly, which restricts water flow. If your home is outfitted with galvanized steel pipes, repiping may be called for.
You should also consider repiping if your home has lead pipes. These pipes were also commonly installed in older homes. The main issue with lead pipes is the numerous health issues that can develop after consuming too much lead content. These issues include everything from seizures to unconsciousness.
Repiping could also solve issues brought about by repeated repairs. Even if the repairs are small, the costs will build up over time and may become too expensive to justify. If repairs are no longer able to keep your plumbing system in good condition, installing a new network of pipes could be a more lasting solution. You should also consider repiping if you’re remodeling your home. If a bathroom is being renovated, repiping your home could save you money when taking the entire renovation costs into account.
Have Our Plumbers Inspect Your Home’s Pipes
Repiping an entire home isn’t easy since cold and hot water supply lines will need to be replaced. The drain pipes must also be replaced. The first step in the repiping process involves having our plumbing inspector take a look at your home’s pipes to determine if an entire repiping is required.
In this scenario, all plumbing issues can be identified, after which the right solutions will be recommended. You can also request an estimate at this time to determine how much repiping will cost based on the information that was found during the inspection.
In the event that the inspection indicates a repiping is needed, there will be a comprehensive discussion of the issues and how they developed. During the planning phase, the materials for the project will be selected. The plumbing system’s layout will also be considered. Any off-code requirements will be identified as well. All details about the repiping project will be explained to you to make sure that you understand the complex nature of a repiping project and what it means for your home.
Select the Right Repiping Solution
The next step in the repiping process is to choose the option that works best for your home and budget. Our inspection specialist can help you determine if a single-section repipe is required or if the entire home needs to be repiped. The condition and age of your plumbing system play a part in the recommendation you receive. In most cases, repiping an entire home can be more affordable than replacing individual areas of your plumbing system when taking future repairs into account.
Before you go forward with a whole-house repiping project, you should know that a permit is usually required from the local government. The costs associated with this permit are typically included in the estimate you receive before the project begins.
Choose Specific Repiping Materials for the Job
Once you’ve made the decision to repipe your home, we can provide you with recommendations on the best materials to use for your new pipes. This is among the most important aspects of the repiping process. The right material can keep repairs at bay for many years.
The two most common materials for repiping projects include PEX and copper. PEX is more affordable and more durable than copper. These pipes can be placed into current water lines because of their flexibility and lightweight construction. They also consist of low thermal conductivity and aren’t susceptible to damage from corrosion. These qualities make PEX the best option for most homes.
Our Plumbers Will Complete the Primary Repiping Process
When you hire our plumbers to complete a repiping project in your home, we’ll make sure to protect your furniture and floors by having the work area covered with large plastic sheets before any aspect of the repiping job takes place. The specific location of the pipes in your home will then be identified. After the location is determined, small sections of the drywall will be cut out and removed to get to your pipes.
During this process, the water supply needs to be shut off, which is why it’s recommended that you have some water on hand at this time to keep your daily activities from being disrupted. Once the repiping project is finished, the area will be cleaned up by our plumbers. Any holes in the drywall will also be repaired before the drywall is repainted. The interiors of your home will return to normal after the new plumbing system is installed.
Consider Retrofitting Your Home
When you have your home repiped, you might want to request retrofitting as well before the repiping process is completed. Retrofitting can be part of the repiping project and will involve placing low-flow fixtures in your home that use much less water than standard fixtures. Once installed, the low-flow fixtures should result in your water bills dropping significantly.
Depending on the exact size of your home, the repiping project can take upwards of a week to be completed. Retrofitting doesn’t add much time to this process. Once the repiping is finished, we’ll test your new plumbing system to make sure that the water is flowing without obstruction. The difference between your new system and the old one should be immediately noticeable. For instance, water from new pipes should taste better.
If you’ve requested plumbing repairs several times in the past but find that the issues keep reoccurring, it might be time to schedule a home repiping, which our professional plumbers can handle for you. Our services are comprehensive and cover all plumbing work that needs to be done in a home. We can provide repairs, maintenance, and installation for traditional and tankless water heaters as well as heating and cooling systems. Our team at TR Miller Heating, Cooling & Plumbing can also repair clogged toilets or clean clogged drains. We are capable of working on emergency plumbing projects, which include everything from gas line repairs to burst pipe repairs. Call us today to schedule a repiping for your home or get more information about what this project entails.
