Start the New Year With New Pipes

A Plumbers Guide To Repiping a Home

For homeowners who like to set financial goals for the New Year, looking at what projects need to happen around the house can help. Many big home improvement projects cost time and money, so people should plan ahead accordingly. 

When considering home improvement projects, homeowners often prefer to focus on cosmetic fixes like replacing fixtures or repainting. However, this overlooks the critical systems that allow a home to operate safely and efficiently. One of the commonly overlooked plumbing problems in The Woodlands area is the need for repiping a home. This guide will give homeowners an idea about the repiping process and why it is necessary. 

When Is a Repipe Necessary?

The plumbing in a home is usually out of sight, so it’s easy to forget about. But after many years in service, plumbing problems can become systemic, and the need to replace piping on a large scale may become necessary. Some of the reasons that repiping may be necessary can be:

• Outdated Materials: All galvanized metal that was installed requires replacement. Galvanized piping was only intended to last as long as it has, so it has been phased out for better materials. 

• Low Water Pressure: Scale and rust can build up on the inside of pipes and impede water flow. This can become so bad that water pressure drops. The only remedy is repiping. 

• Scale Build-up on Showerheads and Faucets: Scale doesn’t limit itself to the inside of pipes. It can also blind showerheads and faucet screens, requiring frequent cleaning to keep the water flowing. 

• Homes That Don’t Have a Water Softener: Homes that aren’t equipped with a water softener will cause scale to build up inside pipes much faster. Even with modern plumbing materials, water softeners increase the life of all aspects of plumbing. 

Materials Used for Repiping

When it comes to choosing the best piping materials to install in a home, there are generally three that professionals tend to work with: copper, PVC, and PEX. Updated building codes suggest copper, PVC, or PEX piping as a replacement for old galvanized pipe. Copper was used as a replacement for it for a few decades when its price was lower. Copper is expensive and difficult to install, but it has the longest life expectancy of the three alternatives, and it has the best thermal properties. 

PVC is a good choice and is still commonly used. PVC is cheap and easy to install and is expected to last for many decades. It is corrosion resistant and resists the buildup of scale. 

PEX is the most popular option in use now. Prized for its easy installation and cheap cost, it can be used for hot and cold water lines and joined using simple tools. It is expected to last longer than PVC and has fewer problems as well. 

The Professional Repiping Process

The process for repiping a home is fairly involved. When the house was built, plumbing was installed before the walls were finished, so to replace hidden piping, the pipes will need to be reexposed. Once the walls are open, plumbers can quickly replace plumbing so that the walls can be repaired. For homes on slabs, the pipes will be rerouted outside or through the attic for easier access. 

Finding a reliable repiping plumber shouldn’t be hard. Homeowners should look for plumbers with “no-mess” guarantees and that have experience in whole home repiping. The entire process shouldn’t take more than a few days, and the benefits will literally last a lifetime. 

About JD Precision Plumbing Services

JD Precision Plumbing Services has been serving customers in The Woodlands since 2010. Their licensed technicians use only the latest technology to fix plumbing problems. Residential and commercial customers can take advantage of their upfront pricing and hassle-free service. Call them today for more information about whole-home repiping in The Woodlands, TX.

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