More Than a Pipe Dream

Posted on: 20 May 2021

If you live in a house that's several decades old and it still has its original plumbing, the pipes might be in bad shape. You might have galvanized pipes that are corroded and near the end of their lives. When pipes get corroded, clogs can form and cause problems with your plumbing. Here are some signs of corroded pipes and the types of plumbing repairs that could be in your future.

Your Water Has Debris

Bits of debris in your water can be scary, but it's not always dire news. If the debris is only in the hot water lines, the problem is likely to be in your water heater. You might need a plumber to flush the heater and get the sediment and scale out of the tank and lines.

If debris is in the cold water too, the problem could be with the city or with your pipes. If the pipes are clogged with rust and corrosion, little bits of rust can flake off and swirl around in your water. If your pipes are clogged with hard water scale, you might see lighter-colored debris. Call a plumber to figure out what the debris is and what kind of plumbing repairs are needed.

Your Water Pressure Is Low

If you have low water pressure at every faucet, and in both the hot and cold water lines, the problem might be a clog caused by corrosion or hard water scale in the water pipes. Low water pressure is caused by other things too, so your plumber needs to take a look. You might need plumbing repairs on the water heater, a leaky pipe, or on the pressure-reducing valve.

If the problem is a clog due to corrosion, a plumber will probably recommend making repairs right away. If the diameter of the pipe has become so small that water slows down going through the pipe, pressure might build and cause the pipe to rupture. Plumbing repairs in this case might be to replace the single affected pipe, but if all of your pipes are old and corroded, you might need to have your home repiped.

Your Faucets Are Clogged

Just like sediment, rust, and scale can clog up your water heater, the debris can clog up your faucets too. The aerator on the end of the faucets can get so clogged that water barely comes through. You may notice the same problem with your shower head.

While you can take the aerator and shower head off and clean them, a plumber may need to make repairs to your faucets to get rid of the debris buildup.

A Pipe Is Leaking

Plumbing repairs might be more complicated with a corroded pipe that's already leaking, The plumber might pull a new liner through the old pipe to create a plastic pipe inside of the rusted one. This eliminates the need to dig up the old pipe and results in quicker repairs.