Plumbing problems usually show up as the building grows old, and knowing how old your building is will tell you if it is time to keep an eye on your pipes. Age tends to deteriorate the condition of pipes, which will generally start showing problems.
Typically, there are some early signs of issues that you can detect through close monitoring. The inability to look after pipes can lead to more significant problems that are difficult to manage and expensive to repair. The plumbers at McKinney TX suggest that you check some areas of your home that you usually do not think about, like crawl spaces and basements, utility rooms, and look for the following signs that will hint about whether the pipes need repair or replacement.
Look for leaks
As pipes become old, chances of leaking increases. Do not ignore small leaks because it can turn into a noticeably big problem. Pipes are usually as old as the building and starts deteriorating after many years. Look for mold or mildew growth on the bathrooms and other places of your home that confirm the dampness of that place, which could be due to leaking pipes. This can happen, especially when the leak is under the floor or behind the walls. Remember that mildews seen around your shower are not due to leakage, but at any other place, it is a matter of serious concern as there might be leaking pipes. The musty smell of molds and mildew is easy for detecting its presence, and if it does not go away after cleaning and scrubbing clearly show that pipes are leaking.
Corrosion in tubes
If you observe the flaking or dimpling of your pipe tubing, it is a sign of substantial corrosion in the tube that needs replacement. If the water turns highly acidic, it could wear out the tubing. Copper pipes become corroded when left unused for a long time, which can also happen due to water reaction with the flux used for connecting pipes.
Colored water
Pipes can rust with time, and if you find some brownish color water coming out from pipes, it shows that the rust particles are mixing with water that gives it the color. Rust can make the water smelly too and taste unpleasant, but the bigger problem is that it leads to water hardening, which impairs the quality of water and makes it challenging to rinse the soap away from the objects you clean.
Stains
Wall discoloration at some places or stains under the sink indicates some issue with the pipes. If you find stains or watermarks on the bathroom wall or the ceiling under the bathroom on the floor above, it is a sure sign of water leak from the pipes that remain hidden under the wall or floor. Do not ignore even the slightest staining that could mean that leak is at some distance from the spot. Warping of the bathroom wall indicates the presence of moisture due to leaking pipes.
Early leak detection can save costs and hassles because repairing or replacing concealed pies is a cumbersome task.
