What Condition Are Your Pipes In?

If you’re moving into a new home that was previously owned, there are a lot of things you should do in preparation for taking possession. In addition to the more visible aspects of a home, such as the condition of the roof, or the state of the walls and floors, there are a lot of “invisible” quality of life aspects to a home that will play an important role in your everyday life. Some of them are obvious, such as the condition of electrical wiring in a home, which is incredibly important with the technology-reliant lifestyles we have in the 21st century.

Others, while more subtle, still impact you every single day, such as the state of the plumbing in a home. This may not be something you think about or see on a daily basis, but indoor plumbing in good condition is vitally important to your comfort and convenience. This affects your daily life at home in more ways than one.

Safe Water Consumption

Every home is going to have to address this on a case by case basis, which is why a professional inspection by a qualified plumbing expert is so important. Different homes of different ages will have different types of plumbing. Older homes with older plumbing, for example, may have lead lining the water pipes, and this can present a risk to health over years of consuming water directly from these pipes.

This means that if you don’t want to take the risk for the health of yourself and your family, you will either need to install a water filter, or get the pipes replaced. Of course, having the pipes replaced with new ones not only solves the problem, but adds more value to the home, in the same way that replacing old knob and tube wiring and fuse boxes with up to date wiring and fuse boxes makes a home more valuable and attractive for resale.

Structural Integrity

Homes built early in the 20th century are now over 100 years old, and, if nothing has been changed in all that time, so is their plumbing. Cast iron was once a popular material for use as plumbing in homes. In many residences, it has provided decades of faithful service, but, as with any material, 100 years or more of constant, daily use will take a toll. Nothing lasts forever, not even iron, and even comparatively “younger” plumbing solutions from the 1960s or 1970s may need an inspection to ensure that things are working properly.

As time passes, many factors can affect the condition of pipes. Different areas with different water supplies will have different levels of acidity, and, over decades, these can slowly corrode and weaken pipes. Pipes can also build up blockages inside, as layers of detritus stick and gradually build up, similar to how a coral reef grows over the decades. In time, pipes can be blocked, or even break entirely as weak points, subjected to stress over decades, finally give way, causing pipes to burst or break. If this happens to your main pipe where your dish water, bath water and toilet sewage leave the house, it can endanger the health and comfort of everyone inside.

Leave It To The Experts

Cardigan Kitchens & Baths has the plumbing expertise to inspect your home and determine where you’re in good shape and where you may be in trouble. It’s easy to forget about your plumbing, since it’s safely hidden from view. But a problem with your plumbing is not something you want to get out of control. If you don’t know what condition your plumbing is in, call Cardigan Kitchens & Baths and let us tell you.