Brass pipes are not so common as copper but it has a bit of a longer lifespan. Generally, brass piping can survive between 80-100 years on average.
But brass pipes aren’t as common today as they once were. That is because they contained and introduced traces of lead into the water supplies of homes.
Other alternatives to brass pipes include:
- Cast Iron: Lifespan of 80-100 years
- Galvanized Steel: Lifespan of 80-100 years
- Copper: Lifespan of 70-80 years
- PVC Piping: Lifespan of 24-45 years
Unless you just built your home or it’s a couple of years old, there’s a high chance your plumbing is outdated and would require new updating.
Over time, pipes suffer from the elements, rust, corrosion, and eventual disrepair. But, you don’t have to live in fear of a leak or raw sewage flowing under your home or in your basement.
Before catastrophe strikes, watch out for the following telltale signs it’s time to get an upgrade to your plumbing system contained in your home:
7 Signs to Look Out for Before Changing Your Brass Plumbing
Is it time for a pipe replacement? Are the plumbing pipes in your home starting to give you problems?
Not all plumbing need replacement. In fact, if your plumbing system is still on the newer side, you might get away with repairing them rather than replacing them.
Most pipes are designed to last for ages, so even if they’re 20 years old, you should still be able to get some service life out of them.
There will, however, be instances where you’d need a FULL plumbing pipe replacement as opposed to plumbing repair.
Here are seven telltale signs that’ll let you know it’s time to call on a professional for pipe replacement.
Cracks
Cracks on plumbing pipes are easy to spot no matter how deep your plumbing system is buried.
If you have a crack in a plumbing pipe, then it is quite easy to spot. Simply look at the pipe and you should see water coming out of it as it passes through your plumbing system.
Even if the pipe is hidden underneath a floor or behind a wall, it won’t take you very long to realize that you need to have a plumbing pipe replaced.
A crack in the pipe gushes or leaks water out and its only a matter of time before water begins to soak the floor or wall and do damage to it.
Don’t overlook wet spots in any part of your home. This could be a disaster waiting to blow up.
Lastly, water damage could also foster mold growth if you aren’t careful enough.
Leaks
Leaks are a common issue with all plumbing pipe types.
A plumbing pipe doesn’t have to suffer a scratch or crack to leak. Loose connections between plumbing pipes can also cause them to spring a leak.
At first, that leak might be negligible with only a bit of water coming out of your pipes. However, over time, a small leak can turn into a large one when it’s exposed to pressure.
Most plumbers will repair a plumbing leak without replacing pipes. However, in serious cases, they would suggest a whole pipe replacement.
Corrosion
Are you frustrated at the way your plumbing pipes are always clogging up on you? Are you tired already?
You might want to educate your family on carefulness when it comes to what they put down the drains. Some substances could corrode your pipes from the inside out.
Galvanized steel pipes, in particular, are famous for suffering corrosion. Once the process kicks in, it’s only a matter of time before you’re going to need to replace your whole plumbing pipes so water can flow through them freely again.
Discolored Water
As you go take a shower or turn on your kitchen faucet, you want the water that comes out to be crystal clear.
You definitely do not want to see brown or yellow or appear as though it has some kind of sediment floating around in it.
If your water fits into any of these categories, it might just be a temporary issue with your local water supply. However, it might also be a sign that your pipes are rusting or corroding on the inside.
Give it 24 hours or so to see if the color of your water clears up or not. If it does, then it could just be minerals. However, if it doesn’t then you’re going to want to avoid drinking the water or bathing in it and have a plumber come out to your home right away.
Decreased Water Pressure
Like discolored water, there is a chance that decreased water pressure in your home is a clear sign of an issue rising up in your area.
For instance, if there is an issue with a water main on your street, it might trigger low water pressure in your home.
However, if you always seem to suffer the issue of decreased water pressure in your home, it might be your plumbing system’s way of telling you that you need to have new plumbing pipes installed.
Your old ones might not be cut out to deliver the water pressure you need.
Dangerous Materials
Lead plumbing pipes are dangerous and continuous, consistent exposure to lead can cause slowed growth in kids and trigger learning disabilities.
It can also lead to reproductive issues and kidney problems in adults.
What a lot of homeowners and tenants don’t know is that lead plumbing pipes are still prevalent in many parts of the country.
Around 10 million homes get water via lead service lines and some even have lead plumbing pipes feeding into their homes.
Make a few calls and verify if your plumbing system contains lead or comes into contact with lead in any way.
If it does, you should consider figuring out a way to remove lead from the equation sooner than later.
Old Age
All other plumbing pipes except PVC plumbing will definitely need replacement at some point.
Here is how much life you can expect to get out of them:
- Brass: 40 to 45 years
- Copper: 50-plus years
- Galvanized steel: 20 to 50 years
- Cast iron: 75 to 100 years
If you aren’t sure of what kind of plumbing pipes you have in your home, ask your plumber to check the next time they make a visit. Then, crunch the numbers to see how old your pipes are.
It’ll give you some idea of when you’ll need to think about replacing them.
ALSO SEE: How Long Do Galvanized Pipes Last?
Schedule Plumbing Pipe Replacement Today
We recommend scheduling an appointment with a skilled and experienced plumber in your home if you’ve got a plumbing pipe leak or if you suspect your pipe is being corroded on the inside out.
A plumber will be able to analyze your plumbing system as a whole and see what kind of condition it’s in before recommending the best possible repairs or replacement options.
NEVER, I mean, NEVER EVER put off a plumbing repair or pipe replacement for too long.
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