Repiping is the process of replacing all the hot and cold-water pipes in your house and replacing them with new pipes. This process is sometimes also called replumbing. Most repiping projects in residential homes is due to existing pipes reaching their end of life, as they may be deteriorating or in some cases, they are defective. Galvanized steel pipes, which were used extensively up until the 1970s, corrode in a process called dezincification. These pipes may leak, produce rust colored water, or clog pipes with corroded metallic buildup. Some houses built in the 1990s and 2000s may have been installed with Kitec piping, which often fails, causing extensive water damage.
Many homeowners choose to repipe with copper piping, as it is durable, long-lasting, and not prone to the deterioration characteristic to galvanized pipes.
Signs That Your Home Needs Copper Repiping
What are signs your home is overdue for repiping with copper pipe? There are several clear indicators that your home plumbing system is ready for a replumbing update.
1. Significantly Lower Water Pressure
Galvanized steel pipes only last about 50 years, and when they degrade, the inner lining goes through a process called dezincification. The metallic alloy lining flakes off and clogs the pipes, which leads to lower water pressure. Abnormally low water pressure can be an indicator that your pipes need to be replaced with sturdy, reliable copper pipes.
2. Discolored Water
If your tap water has gradually become yellow or rust colored, this can be a sign your existing pipes are degrading and your water is picking up the metallic particles.
3. Leaky Pipes
If your steel pipes are springing leaks left and right, this can also be a sign they are degrading, and it may be time to repipe with copper, so there are no further issues, and you avoid high water bills and water damage.
4. You Have Kitec Pipes
Kitec pipes are a polymer piping that were installed in homes in the US and Canada from the mid-1990s to 2007. Unfortunately, they are extremely prone to failure, and when they burst, they cause severe water damage to your home. There are ways to identify whether you have Kitec installed in your home, but if you do, replacing them with copper is something you should do sooner rather than later.
5. Corrosion in Existing Pipes
If you have galvanized pipes, and they are already deteriorating and scaling, there is no way to reverse this process. The corrosion simply gets worse. Scaled and corroded pipes are a sign you should consider copper repiping, as they are not prone to corrosion.
6. Your Water Tastes Bad
If you water tastes metallic, it could be due to the dezincification of galvanized pipes, meaning the pipes are deteriorating on the inner lining, and that is being transferred to your running water. If your water tastes funny, like metal or rust, it’s time to replace your piping with reliable copper pipes.
7. Aging Pipes
Galvanzied pipes have a lifespan, and if your home was built more than fifty years ago and it still has the original pipes, this is something you might consider planning. Better safe than sorry to protect your investment and your peace of mind.
Benefits of Copper Repiping
There are many practical reasons to choose copper pipes for a repiping project.
1. Clear Rust-Free Water
One of the biggest advantages of copper over other metallic pipes is it does not corrode, meaning the water is clear, uncontaminated, and tastes better. Galvanized steel can corrode over time, and the water quality degrades as the years go by. Copper is resistant to corrosive chemicals and oxidation, meaning it is an excellent choice for indoor water piping.
2. Improved Water Pressure
Indoor plumbing and water pipes made from galvanized steel can corrode and sediment can accumulate, causing the water pressure to drop considerably. In advanced stages of degradation, you might notice the water pressure drop when you take a shower or run the dishwasher or do laundry. You might not be able to do any of these activities simultaneously, because the sediment and deteriorating metal is clogging up the pipes all throughout your house. Obstructed pipes should be replaced with copper piping to eliminate this problem.
3. Better Tasting Water
Copper is impermeable, meaning contaminants cannot enter the water piping from the outside, even in extreme temperatures. Your water stays clean and good to drink. Also, copper is resistant to bacterial growth, meaning there is no contamination coming from inside the pipes. Microbes and bacteria cannot grow within copper piping the way it can in steel or polymer piping.
4. Long Lasting Durable Pipes
Copper pipes usually have a 50 year warranty, and American made “L” copper pipes often last up to 100 years before needing to be replaced! This means they will last for a lifetime. Copper is extremely durable for hot water pipes, and will not deteriorate or fail.
5. Higher Property Values
If you plan on selling your home in the future, consider replacing galvanized steel pipes with sturdy copper piping, because many homebuyers will look for this. Galvanized pipes may also bring a lower appraisal value.
6. Fewer Maintenance Issues
Copper piping is less prone to leaks or plumbing maintenance than galvanized pipes. This piping can save you hassles in the future with maintenance.
7. Can Be Exposed to Sunlight and UV Rays
Piping made from polymers, plastics, or PVC break down from exposure to sunlight, or UV light from fluorescent lighting. Copper pipes do not suffer from UV degradation. They can be used for any indoor or outdoor piping application.
8. Environmentally Friendly
If you are concerned about eco-friendly materials, copper pipe manufacturing releases less pollutants than PVC and polymer pipe production. Copper pipes can also be recycled at their end of life.
9. Improved Quality of Life
After a repiping project, homeowners are often happy to find they can take a shower, run the dishwasher, or do laundry without a huge drop in water pressure. They may find the water quality in their home is vastly improved, and the water they drink no longer tastes metallic or rust-like.
You may think that repiping is too expensive to invest in, but financing is available for repipe projects. Please consult with a professional repiping contractor so you can get a quality repiping project done at a fair and reasonable price.
How Long Does It Take to Repipe a House?
For most homes that are three bedrooms or less, a copper repiping project may take a few days. Larger homes may take longer, but a professional repipe contractor can complete the work quickly and efficiently.
Repiping Services in the Greater Sacramento Area
When you need to repipe your home with sturdy, stable copper piping, the team at Wise Monkey Repipe & Construction is here to help you. We’ve helped scores of homeowners in the Sacramento, Roseville, and Elk Grove area with professional, efficient repiping services. Contact us today for a no-obligation estimate.