Does it seem like there’s pressure in your life everywhere except
in your water lines? If you are in an older home in the Los Angeles area,
it could be the fault of those galvanized pipes you have in your house.
Why Are Galvanized Pipes Trouble?
Over time, galvanized pipes will corrode. This corrosion builds up on the
inside walls of the pipes, constricting their size, which means less water
can flow through the pipes. Usually, this is an unseen problem that gets
worse with time. Sometimes the corrosion can be evident, such as turning
on a faucet and finding the water has a brownish tinge. While it is generally
safe to use in that case, doing laundry will result in some funky looking whites!
If the problem is left alone, it will cause your water pressure to drop
to the point you might not be able to run water from more than one source
at a time. It could even corrode to the point where water flow stops all together.
Another problem with corroding galvanized pipes is leaking. Often the leaks
will be underground or under a slab and be unseen. If your water bill
seems to increase even though water usage stays the same, it could be
time to check your pipes for leaks. If you suspect a leak, turn off all
water sources (faucets, icemakers, and any other water fixtures) and check
your water meter. If it is still spinning, you probably have a leak.
What Is the Best Solution?
The fact is galvanized piping will only last about fifty years. If your
home is older than that and you have galvanized pipes, you will have issues.
Often homeowners will find where the galvanized piping is causing a problem
and only replace that section. This is not solving the problem; it is
only delaying it. It’s strictly a matter of time before another
section of the piping will fail, leading to another house call, and another
repair bill. While it may seem expensive, your smartest, lowest cost in
the long run solution is repiping.
Hire a Repipe Expert
Plumbers are not repipers. Yes, they can replace a damaged pipe for you,
but that’s all they are concerned about. Repipers are experts in
all the elements of the repair, including repairing drywall damages caused
by the repair. In addition, if there is leaking under a slab, the longest
lasting, most cost effective solution is not to dig up the slab, but to
repipe instead.
Save yourself time and money. Have those galvanized pipes checked, and
look into repiping as your permanent solution to your water pressure problems.