If your home is more than 30 years old, repiping may be in your future. Over time, pipes corrode, develop leaks, and lose their ability to deliver clean water safely and efficiently. Mountpleasant Plumbing Co provides repiping services to homeowners in Mount Pleasant, SC who are dealing with aging pipe systems. Here are the key signs that your home may need repiping.
Brown, Yellow, or Rusty Water From Your Taps
One of the most obvious signs that your pipes are deteriorating is discolored water. If you turn on the tap and see brown, yellow, or reddish water, it usually means rust and corrosion inside your pipes are contaminating the water supply. This is especially common in homes with galvanized steel pipes, which were standard in homes built before the 1970s. The zinc coating on galvanized pipes eventually wears away, exposing the steel underneath to corrosion.
Discolored water can sometimes occur briefly after the water has been off for an extended period or after work on the municipal water supply. But if you consistently see discoloration, especially from the hot water side, it points to pipe corrosion. Beyond being unappetizing, rusty water can stain laundry, damage fixtures, and in severe cases, contain harmful levels of lead or other metals. If your home has galvanized pipes and you are experiencing discolored water, repiping is not just a convenience upgrade but a health and safety improvement.
Homes in Mount Pleasant, SC built before 1975 are the most likely candidates for galvanized pipe problems. If you are not sure what type of pipes you have, a licensed plumber can inspect your system and identify the pipe material throughout your home.
Multiple Leaks in Different Locations
If you find yourself calling a plumber for pipe leaks every few months, it is a strong signal that your entire pipe system is reaching the end of its useful life. A single isolated leak can happen to any home and is usually just a spot repair. But when leaks start appearing in different locations throughout the house, it means the pipe material is failing systemically, not just at one weak point.
Think of it like a car with high mileage. When one component fails, it is a repair. When multiple systems start failing around the same time, it makes more sense to replace the vehicle. The same logic applies to plumbing. Continuing to patch individual leaks in a failing pipe system is throwing money at a problem that will only get worse. Each repair costs money, and the water damage from undetected leaks between repairs can be far more expensive than proactive repiping.
Keep a log of your plumbing repairs. If you have had three or more leak repairs in different areas within a two-year period, it is time to get a repiping estimate. Modern piping materials like PEX and copper will last 50 years or more, so repiping is a long-term solution that eliminates the cycle of recurring repairs.
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Get Help: (843) 418-2766Low Water Pressure Throughout the House
Gradual loss of water pressure is a telltale sign of pipe corrosion and buildup. As pipes corrode internally, the rough, uneven surface catches mineral deposits, sediment, and rust flakes. Over years, this buildup narrows the internal diameter of the pipe, restricting water flow. What was once a three-quarter-inch pipe may effectively become a half-inch or smaller pipe inside.
Low water pressure from a single fixture usually indicates a localized problem, such as a clogged aerator or a partially closed valve. But when water pressure drops throughout the house, affecting multiple fixtures on different floors or in different areas, the problem is in the main supply lines or branch lines. This type of systemic pressure loss cannot be fixed by cleaning aerators or adjusting the pressure regulator. The pipes themselves need to be replaced.
Some homeowners try to compensate by increasing the setting on their pressure regulator, but this only puts more stress on already weakened pipes and can accelerate leaks. The right solution is to replace the corroded pipes with new ones that have smooth interior surfaces and full flow capacity.
Inspect Your Exposed Pipes
Take a walk through your home and look at any exposed pipes in the basement, crawl space, garage, utility room, or under sinks. Signs of corrosion include green or blue-green staining on copper pipes (called patina or verdigris), white or chalky deposits on galvanized pipes, flaking or pitting on any metal pipes, dimpling or bumps on pipe surfaces, and stains or discoloration at pipe joints and fittings.
Corrosion on exposed pipes is a reliable indicator that the same deterioration is happening throughout the system, including the pipes hidden inside walls and under floors. If you see visible corrosion on the pipes you can access, the pipes you cannot see are likely in similar or worse condition.
Pay special attention to pipe joints and connections, as these are often the first areas to show corrosion and are the most common locations for leaks to develop. If joints show significant mineral buildup, green staining, or evidence of past leaks (water stains, mineral trails), your system is telling you it needs attention.
The Polybutylene Pipe Problem
Polybutylene (PB) pipes were widely used in residential construction from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. These gray plastic pipes were marketed as the pipe of the future due to their low cost and easy installation. Unfortunately, polybutylene proved to be fundamentally flawed. The material reacts with oxidants in public water supplies (such as chlorine), causing the pipes to become brittle, flake, and crack from the inside out. Failures can be sudden and catastrophic, with pipes splitting and causing major flooding.
Polybutylene pipes were the subject of a massive class action lawsuit, and they are no longer manufactured or accepted by building codes. However, millions of homes still have them in place. If your home was built between 1978 and 1995, check for gray, flexible plastic pipes with copper or plastic crimp fittings. They are most commonly found near the water heater, running along the ceiling of basements or crawl spaces, and feeding into fixtures.
If your home has polybutylene pipes, repiping is strongly recommended even if you have not experienced any failures yet. Insurance companies may refuse to cover water damage from polybutylene pipe failures, and the presence of PB pipes can significantly reduce your home's resale value. Many buyers and home inspectors flag polybutylene as a deal-breaker.
The Repiping Process Explained
Whole-house repiping involves replacing all the water supply pipes throughout your home with new pipe material, typically PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) or copper. The process usually takes two to five days depending on the size of your home, the accessibility of the pipes, and the complexity of the layout. A licensed plumber will plan the pipe routing, cut openings in walls and ceilings as needed to access old pipes, remove the old piping, install new pipes, connect all fixtures, test the system for leaks, and patch the wall openings.
Modern repiping techniques minimize the disruption to your home. Plumbers use flexible PEX tubing that can be routed through walls with fewer connections and fittings than rigid pipe, reducing the number of wall openings needed. PEX is also quieter than copper (no water hammer), resistant to freezing, and does not corrode. Copper remains an excellent choice as well, offering proven longevity and the advantage of being a natural antimicrobial surface.
During the repiping process, you will be without water for portions of each day, but experienced plumbers plan the work to restore water by the end of each workday. Your plumber will discuss the schedule and logistics before work begins so you can plan accordingly.
Contact Mountpleasant Plumbing Co for a Repiping Consultation
If you are experiencing any of these warning signs, do not wait for a pipe to burst. Mountpleasant Plumbing Co provides comprehensive repiping services throughout Mount Pleasant, SC. Our licensed plumbers will inspect your current pipe system, explain your options, and provide an upfront quote with no hidden fees. We use premium materials and stand behind our work with a solid warranty. Call (843) 418-2766 today to schedule a free repiping consultation and protect your home from pipe failure.