Homeownership is, in many respects, nothing more than just a continuous "honey do" list. High on the list of the many things that homeowners will face is pipe repair. It isn't a matter of 'if' it will happen - it's a matter of 'when'. Nonetheless, it is important to be a vigilant, proactive homeowner. It is vital to the health of your home to get out and check your pipes to make sure you can identify problems before they become critical. Even if you are a novice in the arena of home repair, here a five things that are clear signs that pipe repair is just around the corner:
1. Corrosion is Present on Pipes - Formicary corrosion damage, caused by the presence of formaldehyde, and pitting, caused by chlorine exposure, are the two most common corrosion types. Eventually, the presence of these types of damage causes small holes in the pipe and will undoubtedly lead to leaking or bursting. Corrosion damage need to be carefully checked out and repaired before causing extensive damage to your pipes.
2. Your Drains are Moving Slower than Usual - Blockages are a major problem for pipes. Industry insiders use the acronym FOG to identify the types of materials that causes blockages (fats, oils, and grease), especially in sewer pipes. If you have hard water, limescale can form in large amounts and block water flow. Take some time to see if your drains seem like they are flowing more slowly than usual. If so, there might be a major blockage in the system that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
3. Limescale is Present - Limescale is formed from hard water in your pipes. Hard water's mineral contents accumulate over time, and after some time, these deposits block the flow of water. The good news is that limescale deposits can be removed from the pipe if noticed early. However, if it is very advanced, it can't be removed without damaging your pipes.
4. Tree Roots are Causing Damage to Pipes - This is a little tougher to see that most other issues. When we buy a home, we tend to fall in love with a quaint neighborhood and beautiful landscaping, but in time, trees can become a bit of a problem. Tree roots try to find the nearest water source, and if you see roots near and around your home, it is a pretty good sign that you will have tree roots growing into your pipes. Cutting out these root systems from the pipes is great if you catch the problem early enough. Otherwise, you'll end up with severely damaged pipes that are beyond repair and need replacing. As expected, this is not cheap.
5. You Have an Older House - Older homes appeal to DIY maintenance junkies, especially if they believe they are getting a deal on a home they can spruce up. Unfortunately, these homes also have a much higher risk of faulty piping. Buying an older home means most likely be dealing with the original pipes on the property. This can mean the pipes in your "new" home are decades old. Essentially, you are already guaranteed to be making calls about pipe repair.
Pipe repair, though difficult to face & at times very costly, shouldn't be a reason to avoid owning your own home. Understand your role as a homeowner, and be active in not only identifying problems but also remedying them.
