You notice a tiny green crust on the copper pipe under your sink. Or perhaps you see a small, damp circle forming on the drywall in the hallway. It’s so easy to ignore these little things because life is busy. A single drop of water every few minutes may not seem like a reason to panic. However, that small bit of corrosion is actually a signal that your plumbing is starting to struggle against age and pressure. If you call a plumber to fix that one specific issue, you might only spend a few hundred dollars on a quick patch or a new valve. If you wait until that pipe finally snaps while you’re away at work, you could return to a flooded house that requires you to tear out every single pipe.

Stopping the Spread of Pipe Decay

Pipes usually fail because of a process called electrolysis or because the water in your town is too acidic for the metal. When one section of your plumbing starts to look flaky or rusted, it doesn’t always mean the entire house is doomed to fall apart at once. When you replace the worn-out sections as soon as they show signs of wear, you can reset the clock on your plumbing system without the mess of a full-scale construction project. For example, if you notice the hot water line in your laundry room is looking rough, swapping that one piece of metal for a sturdy plastic line can stop the damage from spreading to the rest of the branch.

Checking the Pulse of Your Plumbing System

You don’t need to be an expert to give your house a quick check once a month. Take a flashlight into the basement or crawlspace and look for any “furry” white buildup on the joints of your pipes. This is a sign that water is slowly seeping through the threads. You should also pay attention to how your water feels when you turn on the kitchen faucet. A sudden pressure drop could mean a leak is hiding somewhere deep inside your walls. Even a toilet that runs constantly can be a sign that high pressure is pushing too hard on your system. This eventually leads to blown seals and cracked pipes. Catching these weird behaviors early allows you to hold off on a total system overhaul.

A full house repipe is a major job that involves cutting holes in your ceilings, moving furniture, and staying in a hotel while the water is shut off. By catching issues early, you get to keep your original walls intact. Furthermore, you won’t have to deal with the stress of a giant renovation project that turns your life upside down. If you live in Rochester, NY or a surrounding area and need repiping services, make your first call to Nichols Electric and Plumbing.