What is Repiping for?

For many homeowners, knowing that their home requires repiping induces worry and anxiety.  But this is the unfortunate fact for many homeowners who have older houses that have never undergone an upgrade, particularly since there is a high likelihood that some sort of repair work will have to be performed sooner or later. But with every type of renovation project that has to be undertaken at home, a good understanding and a little background knowledge will help assure you about the process and eliminate any fears you may have.

It may sound scary but repiping is simply just a process of removing old or damaged water piping in a building and replacing them with a new set or system. Pipes installed in homes built in the 1980s or earlier are often galvanized or iron pipes that have a zinc coating. Over the years, this coating wears down, which introduces moisture to the metal underneath. This then results to corrosion.

Damage to piping is also caused by other factors, such as extreme weather conditions and fluctuating water pressure. Time is a factor as well since old pipes will eventually wear down and begin delivering water contaminated by rust, cause tiny leaks in the system or simply just burst. Once any of these things happen, it’s a sure sign that the piping system in a home has already been compromised and that repiping is required so old, unsafe pipes can be replaced with longer-wearing and rust-resistant pipes.

Are copper pipes the answer?

Repiping your system with copper pipes can be time-consuming and rather expensive. It is a job that’s best left for professionals to do, unless of course you have extensive experience or at least a decent level of skill in plumbing and renovation. Other than the cost of plumbing materials, plumber fees tend to be some of the highest of professionals specializing in home repairs. However, a copper repipe job that has been performed improperly can be costly in the long run. By simply doing some research prior to hiring your plumbing contractor, you can avoid a botched job.

Always check your plumber’s references and consult the BBB or Better Business Bureau to check for any red flags such as negative reports and unresolved complaints. It’s also a good idea to obtain quotes from several sources so you have a list of plumbers and contractors who are qualified specialists for the job. With the quotes, you can also find the best prices possible.