What is Copper Repiping?
If you live in a house built more than 25 years ago, your house was probably constructed with zinc coated iron pipes otherwise known as galvanized pipes. As these pipes pitch age, zinc will erode and rust will form in and around your water pipes. When this process begins, you will need to have your water pipes replaced. These days, galvanized pipes are replaced with copper pipes. This is called copper repiping.
All water pipes must withstand two elements: volume and pressure. Water volume is measured by how much water can actually flow through your water pipes and out of the faucet in a set amount of time. The water pressure is the force exerted by the water as it flows through your pipes.
Usually, homeowners will begin to notice a drop in water pressure and their house. The water pressure continues to drop in all of the faucets, causing dishwashers and washing machines to fill up very slowly. You may find that bath tubs and showers don’t have the water pressure they used to, and water hoses in the garden don’t work as well. When you notice this decrease in the water pressure, it’s probably time to replace your water pipes.
It’s also common to find that your tap water is discolored or smells bad. This will be because of rust in the water lines, resulting in leakage. When this starts happening, a plumber or a copper repipe specialist can tell you if it’s time for new copper repiping.
At this point, most homeowners choose copper repiping to replace the galvanized pipes, because copper pipes are durable, lightweight, and don’t even rust. As copper pipes do not leach chemicals into the water, the water will be free of rust and taste much better.
Copper repiping, a trend tossed around by many home improvement fanatics, is an expensive and time consuming process. This is not the type of job that a do it yourself should attempt. In fact, you should check to see if the plumber you’re hiring has ever done this kind of work before.
Another reason to go for copper repiping is removal of debris. The old pipes will have to be disposed of properly, and most cities won’t allow you to put the construction debris in a city dumpster. A professional plumber will have the proper permits to haul and dump the construction debris.
Be sure your plumber gets the proper permits from the city. Any construction work done on your house or property must have city permits. If the plumber says you don’t need permits, hire a different one for the cause he’s not being honest.
For everything you could possibly want to know about copper repiping, see the Copper Repiping Guide website.
