Though we often try to fix minor things around the house, sometimes large issues arise that demand the attention of a professional. A case in point is when the plumbing system of your house begins to corrode and leak. The potential water damage from either not repairing the leak at all or repairing it incorrectly could result in tens of thousands of dollars in property damage.
When there is this much on the line, it's time to call in a repipe specialist, a professional who will ensure that your plumbing system is fixed properly, ensuring you with safe pipes, good water pressure and quality drinking water. The following article lays out in great detail the procedures that a repipe specialist follows to fix leaks and properly secure your plumbing system:
Pipe Leak Repair
Unless a homeowner has terrible drinking water, a lousy shower, or brown stains on the ceiling beneath the upstairs bath, repiping may seem unnecessary. If he does, chances are he needs to have a major pipe leak repair service. The service of replacing all of the leaking pipes and blocked pipes of a house is called repiping. A repipe specialist is a plumber who specializes in replacing pipes. In the cases above, he would replace the defective pipes in the home, usually with copper pipes. This is something a savvy do-it-yourselfer might attempt, especially if cost is an issue, but that could be a bad idea. This is a task that requires special skills in handling hazardous materials.
This job may need to be done to make a home safer or more comfortable, and the process is not as easy as refitting an elbow joint. On the contrary, it completely disassembles the plumbing and replaces most of the pipes. Because it is such a large and disruptive job, it is best handled by a trained specialist who knows how to remove damaged or corroded pipes and to replace them with safe, new ones. Unfortunately, that means most of the walls around the pipes will need to be opened and repaired when the job is finished.
This is not a short-term solution, and doing the job properly will require a considerable investment. However, the new pipes usually last for 20 to 25 years, and the job is well worth the cost. The alternative is to replace one pipe at a time, but that would not eliminate future damage to structural elements, such ceilings, cabinetry, or flooring, if pipes leak before being replaced. Small jobs every year or two are still expensive and over 25 years would add considerably to replacement costs. This makes one-time repairs a more attractive option.
The Repiping Process
After analyzing the condition of the water system and deciding what work needs to be done in the entire house, including kitchen, showers, laundry, and other areas, specialists map out the complete system. Special attention is given to hot water pipes, distribution points, and all other water lines. Before the repairs begin, the homeowner needs to prepare the contents of the home, as well as the home itself, to ensure that no damage occurs during the restoration process. Chores, such as relocating furniture, valuables and fragile items to safe storage and covering carpets with tarps, must be done beforehand.
Before the plumbers arrive, the homeowner should make sure the water is turned off at the home. Otherwise, delays may be expensive and inconvenient. Water service will be disrupted until the job is completed; this is usually four or five days. In order to make the job go smoothly for everyone involved, the homeowner should be given specific directions about preparation needed before the copper repiping specialists arrive.
When the job begins, holes are cut through ceilings and walls to remove old damaged plumbing. New pipes are then prepared and installed in one area of the house at a time. If local regulations require, an inspector will come to the home after installation of new pipes to inspect the work before the system is tested and the walls are repaired. Repiping specialists will then test for leaks and check the water flow. Any problems will be corrected.
Now it is time for the pipe refitters to call a drywall specialist to repair the walls. All walls and ceiling should be returned to their original condition, and any structural repairs or safety issues should be completed. Then the specialist should review with the homeowner all details: what was replaced, what the warranty covers (if there is one), and what needs to be done afterwards. In some cases, seals or joints may take 1 to 2 days to fully dry; likewise, so do plaster and paint. By this time, the water supply should have been turned on, also. Overall, the job should take less than one week. Of course, this depends on the complexity and size of the original system in the home. With the right repipe specialist and the cooperation of all parties involved, complications should be minimal. If all goes according to plan, the homeowner should be well-satisfied.
I've lived in the Chicago area my entire life. Grew up on the southwest side and now live in the Western suburbs. I currently write for the website CopperRepipeSite.com. for more information on copper repiping, go to The Copper Repipe Site. More later.
As you can see, fixing your plumbing problems can be an incredibly involved task and there is no room for error when your home is at stake. Playing home-handyman is fine for minor do-it-yourself jobs, but when it comes to fixing your plumbing system, repairing leaks and maintaining the safety of your water supply, calling a repipe specialist is the way to go.