Why Repipe with Copper?

If you live in an older home, you may start noticing some things about your pipes and your water pressure. You might notice that your water pressure isn't as strong as it once was. Maybe your water looks a little off color, or maybe you smell something odd around your sink every now and then. Generally, these things will all develop over time—rarely do pipes burst and flood your basement or home. However, they can all indicate that it's time for a copper repiping.

Older pipes often become corroded and start to weaken over the years. Scale can also build up in pipes, resulting in weaker water pressure. You'll probably notice scale build up during the warmer months, right when you're using a lot of water. While it's not as noticeable when you're washing dishes, you can more easily see water pressure problems when you're filling up your swimming pool or watering your garden.

Older homes were often built with iron pipes that were coasted with zinc. Over the years, though, the zinc in these pipes would begin to erode. This would allow rust into the pipes. At best, this causes discoloration, odd taste, and an odd smell in your tap water. At worst, your pipes may rust all the way through and eventually burst, causing your home to flood and damaging many other things in the process.

When this happens or when you believe your pipes are getting older, the best thing to do is have a copper repiping done. Copper repiping involves replacing all of the old, rusting pipes in your home with new copper pipes. As you can imagine, this is a pretty time-consuming process, and it isn't cheap, but it is a form of preventative maintenance that can save you thousands of dollars in damages later.

Why use copper for your repiping? Well, there are several reasons. First, copper is lightweight so it's easy to lift and carry. Copper is also more durable than other types of piping, and it will last a lot longer, too. Finally, and most importantly, copper does not rust. You won't need to replace your pipes due to rust ever again, nor will you have to worry about rust getting into your tap water or eating through your pipes. That's not to say that copper pipes never burst or have problems, but they have far fewer issues than iron pipes do.

If you find your water pressure doesn't seem to be as strong as it once was or that your water seems to be a little off, it may be time for a copper repipe. Copper pipes are much better than older iron pipes for many reasons, so when it comes time for a repipe, copper is the best material to go with.