Copper repiping is the process of reassembling existing pipelines into a home or business with new pipelines. Typically, existing pipes, which are twenty-five years old or more, are made of galvanized steel. It is an iron pipe coated with zinc. Zinc begins to corrode after time and forms of rust. This can be problematic for several reasons.

As the galvanized pipes begin to corrode and deteriorate further, the water pressure will decrease drastically. Water pressure is the force that water passes as it comes out of your faucets. This is different from the volume of water, which is the amount of water that comes through your tap for a certain degree of time.

If your washer is taking much longer to fill, your shower is not as powerful as once recalled, or your garden hose does not shoot water hard, more than likely you are ready to repipe. You can also smell a bad odor coming from your faucet, and tap water can also discolor due to rust. Finally, you know it’s time to repipe when your galvanized pipes begin to leak.

The preferred material to use for repiping is copper. Copper does not rust and is also light in weight and durable. It is also flexible and can be easily folded to fit the area being repaired.

Copper repiping involves reassembling your existing pipes with these new copper pipes. This is not a type of plumbing project. You will want to call your professional plumbers to make sure the job is done the first time correctly.

3 Reasons Why Homes May Need Complete Plumbing Repipes

Does your water pressure seem too small? Have you noticed a brown or reddish tint in your water, such as when your washing machine is full? If so, it may have rusty or corroded water pipes. This is a situation that needs attention quickly; otherwise, you may have even more problems shortly. There are three reasons why your home may require complete plumbing repipes. Consider the following:

Tan to Reddish

The brown or reddish tint of your water is the result of rust or corrosion in the water pipes in your home. The rest can only be on the inner surface, or it may have corroded so badly that there are holes or even cracks. While the rust does not present a health hazard, it can make your water taste rather metallic. You can also stain your clothes in the washing machine. On top of all that, it looks pretty nasty!

Low water pressure

One of the most common signs of problems in your home’s water pipes is the low water pressure. While a significant break in your water pipes will simply not cause water at all, a small pinhole or crack can cause low water pressure through your home. It may seem like it takes forever in your washing machine to fill up, it can affect the efficiency of your dishwasher, and you may feel that you are only getting a spray in the shower.

Water damage under your home

Any excess water under your home can cause problems that are very expensive to replace. However, rust and corrosion not only affect plumbing in this area. If you have iron pipes leading to your sinks, washing machine, shower or other appliances and devices, you may have a break that causes a tremendous amount of damage.

Replacements and Repipes

The first thing to consider is to call a licensed professional plumber. A complete house repipe is not a job for the casual-do it yourself. It requires specialized equipment, especially if your home is on a slab base, and the task is very labor intensive. Professional plumbing companies can perform leak detection tests and see exactly where cracks and holes can be. This isolation of the problem can often negate the need for complete recipes.

In conclusion

If you experience any of the above problems, do not wait to contact someone for professional help. The problem will not be fixed and will only get worse over time. It’s best to do it now, so you do not get stuck with even bigger repair bills.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Millburn, Cedar Grove and Livingston.