What Does a Full Home Re-Piping Entail?

Plumbing problems like a leaky pipe or water heater aren’t exactly fun, but they can often be repaired quickly. Unfortunately, not all plumbing issues are the same.

If you’re having serious problems with your plumbing, it might be time to re-pipe your house. If it sounds overwhelming, don’t worry! Whole house re-piping should always be done only by a professional plumbing services company, like MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning. When you hire the right team of professionals for your re-piping process, you can rest easy knowing you won’t face common pipe problems anymore.

There are also plenty of benefits to re-piping your home that you may not have thought of. We will cover a few of those benefits, as well as the process of re-piping and how to tell if/when your house might need it.

When Should You Re-Pipe Your House?

If you’re a homeowner, re-piping your house may not be the first thing on your mind. In fact, most people don’t even think about it until they experience some kind of problem. Whether it’s a leaky drainage pipe, a bathtub drain not working, or a sink drain having issues, we often want our plumbing problems to be fixed quickly.

In some cases, though, that’s simply not the best solution. So, how can you tell if you should re-pipe your house, rather than hiring a plumber to fix just a certain section? Let’s look at a few of the most common reasons:

• Low water pressure: When you run a faucet in your home, do you find that water isn’t coming out as quickly as it should? If you’ve lived in that home for a while, do you notice that the water isn’t coming out as fast as it used to? This could be due to a buildup on your pipes of rust, minerals, and fats. It’s a good indicator that the pipes are getting old; this process takes a long time to occur.
• Discolored water: Does your water have a red or brown tint? That could be a sign of rusty pipes. Again, a rust buildup takes many years to occur. Tinted water is a strong sign your pipes are old. If you continue to drink rusty water, it could start to affect your health.
• Multiple leaks: Having a leak in your pipes here and it isn’t necessarily uncommon, but experiencing multiple, frequent leaks is a good indicator that the pipes are old and need to be replaced.

An Old House Can Equal Old Pipes

Even if your pipes aren’t showing any of the signs listed above, consider when your home was built and if the pipes have ever been replaced before. If the home is over 50 years old and still has the original pipes, it might be a good idea to consider re-piping.

Even if you haven’t experienced any problems yet, you’ll undoubtedly start to as buildup continues to occur and the pipes get weaker. Pipes in older homes have been known to burst, which can create a lot of damage and end up costing you a lot of money.

It pays to research the history of your home if you haven’t already. Look back at the history of construction projects to see the last time new pipes were installed. With a little bit of research, you could save yourself a lot of trouble.

What to Expect from Your Plumber

Once you’ve decided to have a full home re-piping, it’s important to know what to expect throughout the process. It’s a large job, but, when it’s done right, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits for a lifetime. The basic outline of the re-piping process looks like this:

1. Discussing the different types of materials that will be used in the project. This typically consists of copper lines and different types of plastic.
2. Small, precise sections of drywall will be cut into, in order to reach the plumbing lines and safely replace them with the new materials.
3. Once the entire re-piping project is finished, our team at MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning will restore your drywall to a smooth finish and paint over it, leaving the area as it was found.

How Long Does a Home Re-Piping Take?

Depending on the size of your home, a total home re-piping typically takes anywhere from 3-7 days. Keep in mind that some of that time will be used to restore your home to its previous condition. This is a large home project, and it should never be rushed or done by anyone who can promise results in a day or two.

Once the project is complete, there are ways to make sure your new pipes stay in the best possible condition for as long as possible. Our team at MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning will give you the knowledge and resources to be able to take care of your pipes for years to come.

What Are the Long-Term Benefits of Re-Piping?

Once you’ve had your home re-piped, you’ll immediately start to notice some changes around the house. Some of the biggest benefits include:

• Increased water pressure: You’ll notice your faucets flowing freely right away. This is often one of the first major differences people recognize with new pipes. Maybe you didn’t even realize you were experiencing low water pressure before, but the difference after re-piping can really be amazing.
• Clean, rust-free water: Rust isn’t only bad for old pipes, it’s bad for your health if it gets into your water. New pipes help to ensure clean, rust-free drinking water that you can feel good about.
• Lower risk of water damage from bursting pipes: Again, if you have older pipes in your home, they’re more likely to burst. Water damage within the home can cost thousands of dollars. Re-piping is a one-time investment that will offer you more security when it comes to the strength and integrity of your pipes.
• Increased home value: Re-piping your home is a great way to increase the value of your house. If you ever plan on selling it, advertising brand new pipes can really be appealing to potential buyers.
• Lower monthly water bill: Newer pipes will help with water flow efficiency. You’ll notice a difference in your monthly water bills almost right away.

So, whether you’re experiencing issues with your pipes or you know it’s time to make a change, contact the team of experienced, qualified plumbers at MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning today. We serve areas all over Texas, including Houston, Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Spring. We look forward to giving you peace of mind when it comes to your pipes.