Signs it is Time to Replace Your Plumbing

Some things are easy to see when they need replacing in your home. Carpet that is worn or an air conditioner that no longer cools the air is simple to identify as needing replacement. Plumbing is not as straight-forward; pipes can corrode, and other issues can occur behind walls and under the ground that cannot be seen. Knowing the signs of plumbing issues can alert you to when your plumbing may need replacement to protect your health and the investment in your home.

Changes in Your Water

One of the signs of old plumbing that may need replacement is changes in your water. If you have well water, you may have some discoloration or odors in the water, usually when your filtration system needs updating. But in most cases, water should be clear and odorless. When you start noticing changes, like darker water or odors, there could be an issue in your pipes. There could be rust, bacteria and other issues in the plumbing that are causing the changes to your water, signs that the pipes might need replacement.

Water Leaks

A drip in your faucet doesn’t mean you need to replace your plumbing, maybe just a washer or the fixture. However, leaks occurring in pipes in your home or underground are signs of problems. Water stains on walls or ceilings, damp areas in the lawn or rotting floor boards can alert you to leaks and possible pipes that need replacement.

Plumbing can last for decades, but it does eventually need replacement. If you notice changes in your water or your home that are signs of plumbing issues, call your local plumber to have your plumbing inspected.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Copper Piping Theft

Imagine arriving home after a wonderful family vacation to find your home flooded with water, your ceilings torn apart, and your copper plumbing pipes torn out and missing.  What a mess!  Unfortunately, the rising price of scrap copper prices has led to a rise in the theft of all types of copper, including copper plumbing pipes throughout the Atlanta area.

Atlanta plumbers have been busy repairing the damage caused by thefts of copper piping.  These criminals often cause thousands of dollars in damage to get $50 or $100 worth of scrap copper pipe.  They leave behind damaged walls, ceilings, and floors.

The thieves used to target new construction, but these days they look for homes that are vacant and for sale, foreclosures, empty rental properties, and homes where the homeowners are away on vacation.  You can protect your home with an alarm system and by using timers to give the appearance that the home is occupied.

If you are the victim of this type of crime, call the police and contact your homeowner’s insurance carrier.  Be very careful about entering the home until you are certain it is safe.  Some copper thieves attempt to steal electrical wiring and can leave live wiring exposed.

To make your home less attractive to copper thieves, talk to your Atlanta plumbers about replacing the missing piping with PEX piping rather than copper piping. PEX is a type of plastic piping that is an excellent choice for residential indoor hot and cold water supply lines.  PEX is easy to work with, costs much less than copper, and since it’s plastic the copper thieves will leave it alone.  Your Atlanta plumbers will be able to help you decide is PEX is a good choice for your Atlanta plumbing repairs.