How Old Are Your Plumbing Pipes?
Hobart’s leading building and property inspector strongly recommends you inspect the pipes in your home regularly to determine if all is well, or if replacing your plumbing is a reality and not just a pipe dream. Here are a few tips to make sure your water is running smoothly.
Check under the sinks in your kitchen and bathroom to make sure there aren’t any signs of plumbing problems.
Over the decades, the water pipes in your home gradually corrode. Eventually, replacing plumbing is necessary. If you don’t, leaks may occur—and possibly a flood of water or sewage that can cause thousands of dollars of damage.
Inspect plumbing regularly to determine if your pipes are in good condition, or if replacing plumbing is necessary. Simple regular maintenance helps prevent costly plumbing replacement.
If your house is more than about 20 years old, make it an annual ritual to look at any exposed pipe—in basements, crawlspaces, and utility rooms—for telltale signs of trouble. Check under sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms.
Look for stains on walls and on surfaces underneath plumbing pipes that indicate leaks. Even if drips aren’t apparent, stains indicate a past leak that signals future trouble.
Check the pipes for discoloration, stains, dimpling, pimples, or flaking, which are all indications of corrosion. If you find irregularities, bring in a plumber to do an inspection.
Watch for leaks. Even small ones that are easily repaired may be indicators that the time for replacing plumbing for your whole house is approaching. It’s likely that the original pipes in your home are the same vintage, made of the same material
Look at the colour of bathtub water when you fill it—especially after a vacation when water has been sitting in the pipes for a while. If the water looks brown or yellow, what you’re seeing is rust, a sign of decay inside the pipes. Consider replacing plumbing soon
To find out more and get your home inspected call your local independent property inspector on
1800 17 88 22 or email leon@ipi.net.au
© Independent Property Inspections 2019