Which of Your Pipes Need To Be Repaired or Replaced?

12/8/2020 (Permalink)

Replacing your old pipes with new plumbing can help prevent water problems in the future

Which of Your Pipes Need To Be Repaired or Replaced?

Older commercial buildings are more prone to water damage. That is because they often have defects in the below systems:

• Roofing
• Electrical
• HVAC
• Plumbing

Your insurance company may charge you higher premiums for premises that are more than 30 years old or poorly maintained. You are also more likely to require water cleanup and restoration services for these properties. To prevent a future leak or flood in your Nashville building, you should update your plumbing system.

Polybutylene Pipes
These pipes are particularly prone to problems and need to be replaced. Many commercial properties built from the 1970s to the 1990s utilized these pipes. Back then, this piping was seen as cheap and easy to install.
However, it soon became clear that chlorine and other water-treatment chemicals make these pipes brittle. This leaves the pipes prone to breaks and cracks. These pipes are thus no longer recognized by American building codes and must be replaced.

Other Problematic Pipes
Pipes can malfunction due to corrosion or erosion. Erosion occurs when the water wears down the metal of the polybutylene or other pipes.
When the metal reacts with the water in the pipes, corrosion occurs. Older iron, copper and steel pipes are particularly likely to experience corrosion.
Because many of the pipes are often hidden under concrete or behind walls, it can be easy to forget about them. By the time you notice that something is wrong, water may have already seeped into an office or apartment.
If your property does contain outdated pipes, hire a plumber who has the technology to locate and inspect them. The plumbing expert should discover any issues and can fix them before they cause a major water disaster.
Replacing your old pipes with new plumbing can help prevent water problems in the future. Polybutylene pipes, in particular, will degrade over time and need to be changed.