Your home’s plumbing works hard every day, and while some products and fittings may need to be changed sooner than others, having your home’s pipes and fixtures run properly for decades is not a pipe dream. Caring for your home’s plumbing can extend its life beyond the norm. Here’s an estimate of how long the plumbing in your home should survive.
Pipes: Recognize What You Have
Knowing the sort of plumbing in your home will help you determine how long it will endure before becoming affected. Your home inspection report or the documentation and warranties that came with your new house can give you a decent sense of the sort of plumbing system you have and when it was built. You may also pay for a comprehensive assessment of your plumbing system to determine its genuine viability.
On average, supply pipes made of brass, iron, or steel have a feasible lifespan of 50-70 years; copper has a lifespan of 70-80 years or more. PVC pipe has a lifetime of less than 50 years.
Some Melbourne homes built in the 1970s and 1990s featured polybutylene pipe, which was supposed to be easier to plumb since it was constructed of malleable plastic. The product became brittle and is frequently removed from homes as a precautionary measure. If your polybutylene pipe is deteriorating, an examination can tell you.
Heaters for Hot Water
Every day, your water heater works hard to ensure that you have a hot shower in the morning. While the amount of people in the home affects the working day of your hot water heater, here’s an idea of how long you may wait before replacing it.
20 years for a tankless hot water heater
12 years for a traditional hot water heater
10 years for heat pump water heaters
Toilets
A broken toilet might cause a huge house fire. Toilets may endure over 50 years, but not all of its interior components. A toilet operation is quite basic, but it does include a dozen moving elements. It’s not uncommon to have to replace parts of the toilet’s components over time, but cracked bowls or problems flushing may indicate that it’s time for a new toilet.
If your toilet was built before 1994, it could be a good idea to replace it ahead of time. Older toilets consume more gallons of water than required, increasing your water cost. A new toilet might help you save money on your high water bill.
Faucets
Kitchen faucets have progressed with smart technology and touchless technology, but we can all agree that a functional faucet is a kitchen requirement. Faucets can accumulate mineral deposits from the hard water we use in our houses over time. A simple cartridge repair will suffice. However, if you notice rust coming from your faucet or frequent leakage, it may be time to replace it. The functional lifespan of a faucet varies depending on the manufacturer, but the average is around 12 years.
Sump Pumps
The sump pump is one of your home’s plumbing MVPs. The typical lifespan of a sump pump, which is designed to keep your basement dry during severe rains, is roughly ten years. If you feel yours is reaching that age, get it examined. A faulty sump pump can quickly put you in a lot of hot water.
Well Pumps
If your home is on a well, the most critical component for keeping your water running is the well pump. A well pump can last between 8 and 15 years, depending on your water use, the number of people living in the house, sediment levels, and the water levels in your location.
It is never a smart idea to put off plumbing repairs or replacement. Failed plumbing can cause significant house damage, transforming a minor replacement into a large insurance issue. Our knowledge at J.O. Plumbing allows you to determine if your plumbing problem is repairable or whether replacement is the best option.
