One of the most important things you must do for your home is to keep up with your plumbing. Your pipes transport water to and from your house and are responsible for you being able to bathe, clean your house, wash clothes, and more. If your plumbing system is no longer doing the job that it should, there are a few reasons why you may have to consider repiping services.

1. The Age of Your System

Maybe you just moved into an old home that has had the same pipes since it was built many decades ago. However, just because pipes are old doesn't mean they automatically need replacing. According to House Logic, copper pipes can last up to 80 years, while galvanized steel and brass ones may last as long as a century. If those pipes were well-maintained, they may even last beyond that. However, if you're in a historical home dating back to the late 1800s or early 1900s, it may be time for an upgrade.

2. Water Pressure Issues

When you go to take a shower or wash your hands, do you only get a sprinkle coming out of the pipes? Reduced water pressure is a major sign that either you need new fixtures or repiping services. After all, if you always had good water pressure and it suddenly slowed down, clearly something is blocking the waterway. Dealing with such poor water pressure can affect your personal hygiene and home sanitation. A buildup of dirt and bacteria can create major health problems for you and your family.

3. Leaks

Leaks are one of the worst problems any homeowner can face. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 10% of homes have plumbing leaks. Leaks can result from cracks in the pipes, pipes freezing over during inclement weather, or lack of maintenance over the years. Don't ignore the fact that your pipes are constantly leaking. Ongoing leaks can cause a great deal of damage to your home, from the drywall to your floors to anywhere else where there's water exposure. It can also provide a major breeding ground for mold, which can start creating spores within 24 to 72 hours of water seeping in, according to the CDC.

4. Property Value

For most people, buying a house is the largest investment they'll make. After putting so much money into a house, the last thing you want is for it to lose value. If you have a home filled with damaged or malfunctioning plumbing, it can greatly reduce the value and cause other problems down the road. So if you want to increase that value, it's time to get rid of those old pipes and consult local repiping services.

5. Water Odor and Taste

Water from the faucet or other fixtures should be clean and fresh. Do you notice that the water coming out of your shower head seems to be smelly? When you pour a glass of water from the sink, has the transparent H2O been replaced with discolored water you wouldn't think of drinking? Has the taste also been affected? All of these things can happen when you have pipes that may have a build-up of rust or minerals in them.

6. Health Concerns

When you think of all the above problems, these can worsen if you don't replace pipes. For example, discolored or smelly water can be a sign of contamination. Drinking or bathing in such water could not only cause gastrointestinal problems but also irritation of the skin, eyes, and more. If leaks occur and you end up with mold in your home, you and your family could develop respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema, and severe allergic reactions. Black mold is toxic and can ruin your home when not handled promptly.

Functioning pipes are a must to keep any modern home on code. After all, you must wash your body, home, and clothes. You need healthy water to drink and shouldn't expose yourself to contaminants. Plus, the direct problems bad piping can cause may lead to even further devastating issues in your home. That's why you should call on local repiping services to check out the above issues and see what needs to be done. If you need such a service, Plumb Fit is a call away!