5 Signs Your Home Needs Repiping in Winnipeg

Although some plumbing problems are fixable with a quick repair, other issues affect the entire plumbing system. How do you know whether repiping a house is necessary? At King's Services, our professionals can inspect your system and let you know when your home needs repiping services in Winnipeg.

Certain clues indicate that your plumbing system is struggling. Learn more about the signs that your home needs repiping below.



1. The Pipes Are Leaking

If you notice that you are facing more frequent leaks in your home’s plumbing system, this could be a sign that you need repiping services. Older pipes that are suffering from corrosion and other wear and tear will begin experiencing regular leaks.

Sometimes, minor repairs represent the best leaky pipe solutions. However, when the leaks are extensive and frequent, the better solution is to repipe the entire home with new materials.

The cost of performing constant repairs can add up over time. Repiping updates your materials and reduces the possibility of leaks, which should save you money on plumbing repairs and water damage repairs.

Even if you don’t see specific leaks, you may notice rising bills from Winnipeg public works or water stains on floors, ceilings, or walls. These could indicate one or more hidden leaks in your plumbing system. Asking a plumbing technician to visit your home and perform an inspection is the best way to determine whether you need repiping or repairs.

2. You Notice Discoloured Water

Water is supposed to run clear from your fixtures and faucets. However, a clear sign of a plumbing problem occurs when the water in your home has a tint of colour, like brown, red, or yellow. All these colours indicate contamination in the water that could have a few different causes, including:

• Rust flakes from the interior of deteriorating pipes
• A buildup of sediment inside the pipes
• Contamination inside underground water supply pipes

Repiping a house with new materials can eliminate the causes of water discolouration and give your water supply system a fresh start. If you notice odd odours or tastes in your water, a repiping project should get rid of this problem, too.

If deteriorating pipes are causing discolouration, new pipes will reduce the chances of a plumbing emergency from the deterioration leading to a burst pipe.

3. Water Pressure Isn’t Consistent at Your Winnipeg Home

Water pressure issues are a key sign that you may need repiping in your Winnipeg house. Whether the drop in water pressure slowly occurs over time or is sudden, new pipes can fix the issue by addressing some of the causes of water pressure issues, including:

• Major clogs in the supply line
• Holes and leaks in the supply pipes
• Gradual buildup of minerals and calcium

Although a plumber can repair leaks and clear clogs to try to improve the water pressure, replacing the water pipes creates a permanent water pressure fix you can trust. 

It’s also possible that your low water pressure issues are occurring because the diameter of your pipes is too small to meet your current water usage needs. If necessary, your plumber can provide larger diameter water supply pipes during the repiping process

4. You Hear Odd Noises From the Pipes

Properly functioning pipes in your plumbing system should operate without generating noise other than the rush of water. However, a sign of pipes that need replacing can be odd noises when you use the water, such as:

• Knocking
• Gurgling
• Shrieking
• Whistling
• Banging
• Squealing

Such noises are not normal. You should reach out to a trusted plumber for an inspection to determine the exact source of the noise.

Sometimes, noisy pipes can indicate a leak in buried water pipes. Determining the exact sounds that these leaks generate has been the subject of studies to try to help trusted Winnipeg plumbing technicians better pinpoint the source of the noise. They then can suggest making repairs or repiping a house.

Strange noises can also indicate a water pipe that has blockages or a buildup of minerals. If so, you may notice issues with water pressure at the same time as the noises are occurring.

New pipes would remove the leaks or clogs that are causing the noises. Your plumbing system should return to a normal, quiet operation after a repiping project.

5. You Have Aging Pipes

If you live in an older home, you understand that every part of the building eventually wears out and breaks down. Your plumbing system is no exception.

Your pipes' material eventually breaks down after several decades of use. Pipe corrosion signs can include frequent leaks and discoloured water. Some of the common materials used in plumbing pipes and their projected lifespan include:

• PVC plastic pipes last about 40 years.
• Galvanized steel pipes last about 50 years.
• PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipes last about 50 years.
• Copper pipes last about 70 years.

When you perform old plumbing replacement work, you can take advantage of cleaner water and better water pressure. You also reset the clock for the lifespan of the plumbing system, meaning you don’t have to worry about replacing the pipes again for several more decades. If you expect to sell the home in the near future, replacing old pipes can be a nice selling point that will appeal to buyers.

If you don’t know how old your home's pipes are, request a plumbing inspection to receive an estimated age of the pipes.

Let King’s Services Help You With Repiping a House in Winnipeg

When you’re having problems with your home’s water system, you may need a plumbing system upgrade. If the previous homeowners tried to do the job themselves, those DIY plumbing errors could speed up the need for repiping a house.

Don’t live with the signs of piping problems, like water pressure issues. Instead, let King’s Services show you how home repiping benefits can make you love your home’s plumbing system again. For a service appointment or to learn more about the cost of repiping, contact us today.