Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Repiping’

How to Tell If Your Pipes Need Replacing

Monday, February 7th, 2022

hands-holding-corroded-pipesHave you ever heard of repiping? This is the plumbing process where all your faulty piping in your home is stripped down and replaced with all new pipes. In most cases, this doesn’t mean that your professional plumbers can just pop into one section of your home and replace a small length of plumbing–if all your plumbing is aging, chances are we’ll have to replace all your pipes.

Repiping, then, isn’t one of those services you want to just jump into. First, you want to know that you actually need it! We can confirm this for you, but in the meantime, we have some signs for you to watch out for that indicate you may in fact be in need of this plumbing service. Read on to learn more!

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When Do Pipes Need Replacing?

Monday, July 6th, 2015

Pipes in your plumbing system are designed to last for many years, but like any other component of your home, they will wear out sooner or later. Olympia, WA is a rainy community, and rust and corrosion can seep into even the toughest plumbing systems. If you’re a homeowner in the area, you should be prepared to replace pipes when needed by calling on a reputable plumber who knows how to do the job right. But when do pipes need replacing? Here’s a few tips to help you answer that question.

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See our ad in ValPak

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014
Check your mailbox for your Valpak coupon envelope! Look for our coupon with exciting offers for your plumbing needs.
We specialize in residential plumbing repairs and installations. This includes the replacing or fixing of faucets, toilets, and water heaters. We are also experts in whole house pipe replacement, including clear and repair drain systems.
Brooks ValPak

ValPak Coupon (sample image)

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FAQ: What to Look for in the Different Options for Repiping Materials?

Monday, October 8th, 2012

So you’re thinking about repiping your Olympia house. Whether your current pipes have already stopped working or if you’re doing some preemptive maintenance, choosing the repiping material for your new plumbing system is a big decision. There are a number of different materials to choose from and depending upon your budget and your long-term goals, one may be better for you than the other. Here we talk about 2 of the more popular materials to give you some things to think about as you get started.

Copper

Copper is the oldest and most popular material for repiping purposes. Copper pipe is classified by the thickness of the pipe walls. There are three different classes: M, L and K. Type M is very common and has the thinnest walls. This type is popular for large housing developers because it is less expensive. Type L is most common for single-family homes and usually lasts for 40 to 50 years. Copper is very durable and is very good at resisting bacteria growth and corrosion. However, it is very expensive and over time does corrode and can cause your water to have a metallic taste. Copper pipes are also very susceptible to freezing under cold conditions or breaking during earthquakes.

PEX Piping

PEX piping is a relatively new material that has become very popular with plumbers. PEX stands for crosslinked polyethylene. It is a flexible, plastic-like material that is non-toxic, doesn’t freeze, can flex during earthquakes, doesn’t corrode and doesn’t require soldering or joints. It can also last up to 100 years and is completely recyclable. A big drawback, however, is that PEX cannot be used outside or in direct sunlight as ultra-violet light can damage it.

Other Repiping Materials

There are several other repiping materials that are available. Kitec, galvanized and CPVC are just a few of them. Galvanized in particular is an older kind of piping material that is still in use in many homes and is often replaced. Kitec and CPVC were popular choices for plumbers but have fallen out of favor because of their high rate of failure.

Brooks Plumbing has experience repiping homes in Olympia and can help you decide if it’s time to repipe and what material are right for your particular home. Call us today!

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