Why Are Charlotte Homeowners Investing in Plumbing Pipe Replacement?

Let’s get this straight: no sane homeowner wants to pay for pipe replacement before it is absolutely necessary. Repiping a home is a big job. However, if you discover your plumbing is subpar, you will need to make this investment for the safety and health of your family. Before you even consider such a project, it’s important to educate yourself about plumbing issues common to Charlotte, pipe materials, and current piping best practices.

Why Are Charlotte Homeowners Replacing Pipes? It’s All In the Piping Material

The problem? Home builders used piping materials that are now considered substandard. What was once considered safe plumbing material is now no longer considered a prudent choice—and with good reason. Many of the materials used for plumbing systems have been found to not hold up well to wear and tear or the test of time, and this problem is compounded by three factors:

  • Homeowners often use corrosive chemical cleaners, which contribute to corrosion of pipes
  • Charlotte’s water pressure is notoriously high, which wears on plumbing
  • Charlotte’s earth is primarily clay, and clay is hard on pipes

Between the 1930’s and the 1990’s, many Charlotte builders used one of the following four piping materials (all of which can be problematic):

Galvanized Pipes

Galvanized pipes present the following problems:

  • Zinc erodes from the pipes over time
  • Zinc erosion contributes to corrosion and corrosion build up
  • Corrosion build up can lead to accumulation of lead inside your pipes, contaminating your water supply.

Lead in water is a serious problem. For details, visit the EPA site here.

While the water tested at Charlotte municipalities tests as lead-free, the problem happens when a home or building has galvanized pipes and the lead is leached into the water there in the home plumbing system. Get your water tested for lead if your home was built between the 1930’s-1980’s and you suspect you may have galvanized pipes.

We are seeing issues with pipes that are around 40 years old, so the older your home is, the more likely you may have this particular problem. Lead is a serious problem; it’s worth the investment to protect your health.

Polybutylene Pipes

Polybutylene became commonly used for piping between 1978-1995, but it is now considered unreliable because it ruptures easily. Burst pipes can cause significant (and expensive) property damage. We’re talking thousands of dollars (sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) of damage. If your home was built between 1978-1995, check to see if you have polybutylene pipes. Again, this is a good reason to replace piping in your home.

Dura PEX Pipes

Most forms of PEX piping is very reliable but one brand—Dura PEX piping, manufactured by CPI (bought out by NIBCO)—is susceptible to oxidization, which causes leaks. Like the problem with polybutylene pipes, homes with Dura PEX piping are at risk of burst or cracked pipes, which can cause you more than just a headache.

Black Poly Pipe (HDPE Pipe)

This type of piping is usually only used between your meter to your home, but it’s also caused a lot of problems lately since it also is prone to oxidization. Cracked pipes result in high water bills (click here to read about water bill spikes), and that’s no fun for anybody.

Cost Effective Replacement of Pipes

If you suspect you need to replace your pipes, you’ll want to take the following steps to lower the costs of this investment:

  • Use a plumbing company that already owns the heavy equipment needed to do the job. You don’t want to have to pay for their equipment rentals on top of everything else.
  • Hire a company with connections in the industry and a warranty on materials used. A small plumbing company may be gone in the future should you ever need repairs. You’ve already been burned once by industry trends; insure yourself against another bad experience by using a reputable company with a warranty.
  • Ask if everything needs to be replaced (whole house repiping), or if you only need some of the plumbing replaced.

Looking for a Charlotte Area Plumber for Pipe Replacement?

Wondering if you need to invest in pipe replacement in your home? Give us a call or use our online contact form. We’ve been repiping homes in a 30-mile radius of Charlotte since 1997. We’ll make sure you get the job done right and at a reasonable cost, making it a sound investment that pays dividends.

Charlotte plumbers repiping, plumbing pipe replacement

Article Summary

Quick question & answer: Why are Charlotte homeowners replacing pipes?

Charlotte homeowners are replacing plumbing pipes because they do not hold up to wear and tear, and this issue is compounded by three factors. Homeowners often use corrosive chemical cleaners, which contribute to corrosion of pipes. Charlotte’s water pressure is notoriously high, which wears on plumbing. Lastly, Charlotte’s earth is primarily clay, and clay is hard on pipes.

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