When it comes to home repairs, a house repipe is one of the most important and complex jobs. It involves replacing the old pipes with new ones, and it requires a lot of safety precautions. If you're planning to repipe your home, here's what you need to know. The first step is to get a professional inspection.
This will help you determine if your house has lead pipes, which can be toxic and cause serious health problems. If you find out that your home has lead pipes, don't hesitate to schedule a home repair right away. Once you have the permits from the local code office, the installation of new pipes can begin. The work is governed by local codes that refer to the proper location of the lines.
A city inspector will perform a final inspection of your new plumbing system to ensure that it complies with regulations. Before starting work, you'll need to prepare your home for demolition work. The pipes in your house are between walls, below the floor, or above the ceiling. Your contractor must remove part of the walls or ceilings to access the pipes.
Your contractor will use protective equipment, such as rugs and washcloths, to protect your home while working. You can usually live in your house during the refinishing procedure, but if you do, you'll have to find an alternative way to get water and go to the bathroom. If you have a pool or hot tub, you can draw water from there to flush the toilet. You can also buy an emergency storage bag for your bathtub that contains a bathtub full of water in a plastic sanitary container for sponge bathing and household use.
When it comes to choosing new pipes, copper is an ideal material for water pipes and a common choice for installing new pipes. It's a long lasting and long-lasting option. However, it's also quite expensive. An alternative is plastic pipes, which are cheaper but have their own disadvantages.
Lead and galvanized steel pipes were popular at one time, but lead was found to leak into the water supply and galvanized steel pipes rust over time. Once all the supplies are available, the plumber is ready to remove old pipes and place new ones. This is completed one section at a time and takes a few days, depending on the size of your home. When the pipes are in place, your plumbing system will be tested, inspected and ready for daily use. Different pipe materials have a different lifespan, so knowing what type of pipes you have and when they were installed provides you with a starting point. Lead pipes are prone to leaking lead in drinking water and should be replaced immediately if found in homes built in the early 20th century.
Polybutylene pipes are also prone to damage due to oxidants present in water and can ruin them in as little as 15 years. Repiping your home is an expensive job but it's worth it for the safety of your family. Vets 4 You Plumbing Heating & Air is ready to answer your piping questions and offer you a quote for the installation of new water lines.
