A Plumber May Need To Repipe Your Home When Your Plumbing Is Old And Failing

If you've had multiple plumbing leaks or your water has sediment and rust in it, your pipes may be old and in need of replacement. Talk to your plumber since this will be a big investment and you will want to know if it's necessary. However, the alternative could be you'll need to repair water damage if a pipe bursts when you're not around and your house floods. If your pipes are bad, they should be replaced before they crack and cause water damage. Here's what happens when you repipe your home.

Copper And PEX Are Common Choices

When you get new pipes, your plumber may explain the differences between copper and PEX so you can choose what you would like for your new plumbing. Copper is a classic choice and has been used for years. PEX is newer, but it's getting more popular all the time. Many new homes are built with PEX plumbing tubes. These are flexible tubes that are color-coded for hot and cold water. They are tough and easy to repair if they leak.

Only Water Lines Are Replaced

When your home is repiped, the plumber only replaces water lines as these are the most problematic if they leak. You can also have your drains replaced if you want, but that's a separate job. New drains are often made of PVC rather than metal. If you're having problems with drain leaks, you may want them replaced too at the same time or later.

Your Walls Will Probably Have Holes Put In

When new water pipes are put in, the plumber finds a new route for them or removes the old pipes and puts the new ones in their place. If taking out old metal pipes will cause a lot of damage to your walls, the plumber may leave them in place. If you choose PEX tubes instead of metal pipes, the plumber can bend the tubes as needed and fish them through the walls, so your walls may not need to be opened all the way. However, your walls will have holes in them, and you may need a drywall contractor to come in and fill them if the plumbing company doesn't offer the service.

You May Not Need To Leave Your Home

It might be inconvenient to have a plumbing crew working in your home for several days, but you may not need to move out. A plumber can sometimes do the work with at least part of your plumbing hooked up so you have running water. The old plumbing is all disconnected on the final work day and the new plumbing is hooked up. Once your new plumbing is installed, you can rest easy that your pipes shouldn't leak any time soon.

For more information, contact an emergency plumber near you.

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