PLUMBING REPIPING IN SEAL BEACH CA
As a homeowner, dealing with an occasional plumbing issue is par for the course. Typically most plumbing problems can be solved with a call to a local Seal Beach plumbing company like Tweedy Plumbing. However, when issues crop up frequently it may be cause for concern. Especially when those issues may seem unrelated but are in fact symptoms of the same larger issue. The first step in diagnosing large scale plumbing issues like failing piping takes understanding the symptoms of the problem. Symptoms can sometimes be subtle and other times glaringly obvious. Below we will outline some of the common signs of a plumbing system in need of repiping, what to look for, & how to go about finding the right company to perform the service.
To help you make the determination as to whether or not it is time to consider a repipe, we have outlined the 5 most common signs below.
1) Unbalanced or low water pressure
As metal pipes corrode over time water does not smoothly and evenly flow through them. This is usually do to corrosion build up that occurs within the the interior of the pipe walls. If you are experiencing infrequent water pressure and reduced flow rate in the sinks and taps in your home, corroded pipes may be to blame.
2) Extreme temperature variations
When we lose hot water supply the first thing we tend to think of is our hot water heater. It makes sense, your home’s water heater has exactly one job, to heat water for use. So when water temperature varies greatly in a span of minutes or even seconds we tend to think something is amiss with our water heating unit. However, a frequently overlooked issue may be corroded water supply lines. Hot water lines corrode more quickly than cold water lines. When debris from corrosion becomes trapped and lodged inside the anti-scalding devices that are built into most sinks & shower valves, they are prevented from working as designed.
3) Discolored water
When water has a brown or reddish hue to it, there are usually two possible causes. A rusted out tank inside your hot water heater or corroded and rusted out water pipes. When pipes become rusted and corrode, metal flakes off of the interior of the pipe causing water to become discolored.
4) Recurring water leaks
When pipes rust, belly, corrode, or begin to fail in general, leaks occur. The issue becomes compounded when unsuspecting homeowners mistake a leaking pipe for a general and common plumbing issue. Running toilets and dripping faucets are one thing, recurring slab leaks are an entirely different issue. If your home or commercial building is more than 20 years old, minor but frequent plumbing leaks are the single greatest indicator of an entire piping network that is on the brink of failure.
5) Noisy plumbing
By design pipes and plumbing issues should be quiet. Unusually noisy plumbing is a good sign that something bad is afoot. Pipes and plumbing fixtures are designed to function with low & high water pressure. When water pressure becomes varied in damaged pipes it can cause clicking, screeching, moaning, clanking, and thudding sounds.
How The Repiping Process Works
Once the determination is made that repiping is the best choice for you, your home, and your budget, we can begin repiping your home right away. Depending on your home’s size, the entire repiping project will take somewhere between two & seven days.
When dealing with a repiping project there will be extended periods of time (hours) where water will need to be shut off to your home. This is typically doable during parts of the day where you are out and about or at work. Our goal is to make the experience as interruption free as possible. We do not want you having to alter too much of your usual daily routine.
When we begin a repipe, our team starts by taking all necessary measures to ensure no damage is done to your home or belongings. This means we will cover up any carpet, furniture, & personal belongings that may be affected by dust or debris. From there we make small cuts into the drywall to expose pipes that run along walls.
Once the old pipes are removed and new pipes are put in we work to restore your home to it’s pre-repipe condition.
Benefits of plumbing repiping:
Polybutylene Plumbing & What To Do About It
Polybutylene plastic was a commonly used pipe material in the mid 70’s to the early 90’s. Viewed as the next great thing in water pipes, polybutylene water systems were installed in millions of homes across theUnited States over it’s two decade reign as the go-to plumbing pipe material.
The first major issue with Polybutylene which was not known at the time was it’s extremely short life span. This is largely due to the various chemical compounds found in standard city water supply that can cause Polybutylene pipes to turn hard before eventually becoming brittle. Once this occured, pipe fittings are the first to go resulting in frequent plumbing leaks before the pipe itself finally fails.
If your home’s plumbing system is comprised of all or partial Polybutylene piping it’s time to call in a professional plumber. Here at Tweedy Plumbing we can perform a thorough examination of your home’s plumbing system. We will walk you through the current state of the system, speak to safety, longevity, and the costs associated with swapping out compromised Polybutylene piping for a more reliable alternative.