How to know if you really need to replace your plumbing

Time goes by and you normally tend to make changes to your home, but most people usually don’t consider replacing plumbing and deteriorating pipes.  Have you consider it? well you should do it before any future remodeling or home renovation. Replacing old pipes in a 1,500 square foot, two-bathroom home may cost between $4,000 to $10,000, and it requires cutting open walls and floors, so you certainly don’t want to do the job before it’s necessary but you should definitely consider before spending money on a big renovation. 

When you own an older house sometimes you may ask yourself… is a plumbing disaster about to happen or it is just a concern for the distant future?

Over the years the tubing gradually corrodes, rusts, and decays. Unless you replace your home’s plumbing, you’re eventually going to get leaks—and possibly a flood of water or raw sewage into your home that will cause thousands of dollars in damage to your building and belongings.

Here’s how to calculate the grade of your plumbing system and know when it’s time for replacement.

Recognizing your Pipes

• Review the home inspection report you got when you bought your home to see what kind of pipes you have.

• Bring in a trusted plumber to do an inspection of your plumbing system.

• Identify the type of plumbing in your house, to know for how long you can expect it to last.

• Check your pipes regularly. 

Removing lead and polybutylene

• Lead pipes, used in the early 1900s, have a life expectancy of 100 years, but they can leach lead into your drinking water, a serious health hazard.

• Polybutylene pipes, used from the 1970s through the 1990s, are extremely prone to breakage.

• There are two other types of water supply pipe that should be removed immediately no matter how old they are.

Look for signs of trouble

• Make it an annual ritual to look for any exposed pipe, in basements, crawlspaces, and utility rooms—for significant signs of trouble.

• Check the tubing for discoloration, stains, dimpling, pimples, or flaking, which are all indications of corrosion.

• Keep a watch for leaks too, of course. Even small ones that are easily repaired may be indicators that the time for whole-house replacement is approaching.

• If you’ve got sporadic leaks in some places, they’ll start showing up throughout your system soon, if this is the case It’s time to change your water.

• When you fill your bathtub, look at the color of your water—especially after a vacation when it has been sitting in the pipes for a while. If the water looks brown or yellow, what you’re seeing is rust, a sign of decay inside the pipes. consider replacement soon.

Do you know when is the best time to replace PIPES? 
Our best advice is to rely on a trusted plumber, whether it’s time for a pipe replacement or evaluation. There are also few ways you can mitigate the cost and hassle of the job, by following: 

• Replace what’s exposed, for a home with plaster walls, wood paneling, or other features that make it difficult to gain access to in-wall pipes, consider at least replacing pipes that aren’t buried in the walls.

• The plumber may be able to access the clear majority of your system this way. For a 1,500 square-foot, two-bathroom home, you may pay between $2,000 and $6,000 or more to replace just the exposed plumbing.

• Replace when you renovate. Whenever you remodel a portion of your house, take the opportunity to inspect—and if necessary, replace—any plumbing lines that you expose when you open up the walls and floors.

• Include not only the plumbing in the kitchen or bathroom that you’re remaking, but also any pipes passing through the walls to feed upstairs bathrooms.

PEX Limits Demolition

• If you have inside-the-wall supply pipes that require replacement, your plumber may be able to limit the wall demolition he needs to do by using an alternative piping product: Cross-linked polyethylene tubing, also known as PEX, is a flexible plastic hose.

• It can often be snaked into walls in much the way electricians feed their wires behind the wallboard or plaster with relatively minimal surgery, not an option with rigid copper pipe.

•  PEX meets building code nearly everywhere, comes with a 25-year warranty, and puts a smaller hit on your budget than copper. Replacing all the plumbing in a 1,500-square foot, two-bathroom home with copper piping may cost between $8,000 and $10,000.

• Using PEX would cost around $4,000 to $6,000, according to Gove. That’s because of lower material and labor costs. “If it takes you two days to re-plumb a house with copper, you can do that same house in a day with PEX.” 

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has a team  of highly skilled plumbers who are professionally trained and have the skills, tools and experience to do the work needed and exceed your expectations. For your Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach emergency plumbing needs contact our emergency plumbers, at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.

We are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to solve all your plumbing issues at your convenience. you can also visit us online at: www.benfranklinplumber.com for all your plumbing needs.

References
Bousquin, J. (2017, March 18). Do You Need to Replace Your Plumbing? Retrieved from House Logic: https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/home-maintenance-tips/do-you-need-replace-your-plumbing/

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Learning how to Inspect the Plumbing at Home

When buying a new home, it is wise to have the entire structure inspected, including the plumbing before you close the deal.

You can also inspect the plumbing system yourself if you know what to look for. However never take everything at face value, especially when it comes to a major purchase like a home. 

How to do your own plumbing Inspection?

If buying a property schedule an appointment with the owner or the real estate agent that is showing the home, and come prepared. Be sure to wear clothing that you don't mind getting dirty and bring a good flashlight with you.

Don't feel pressured not to fully inspect the home many potential buyers are cautious to "ruffle any feathers", especially if they have fallen in love with the property. A reputable seller or agent will not mind you pushing your nose around (unless they have something to hide) and would naturally want to disclose the accuracy of the home's state of repair or disrepair. 

           Let's take a look at how you can inspect the home you are interested in:

Locate the Water Meter and check if the shut off valve to the home's water supply is in working properly. If the home is equipped with good water, the shut off valve will be located inside the home, usually under the kitchen sink but is often found elsewhere. When you shut the water off using the shut off valve, there should be no water coming out when you turn the taps on in the kitchen, bathrooms, or other areas.

Find out if there are any Lead Pipes in the home. Homes that were built prior to 1986 often have lead or galvanized plumbing. Lead, as you know, no matter how useful, is an environmental toxin (note the need for unleaded gasoline and paint in homes that is not lead based). If you have children, you may not want to live in a home that has lead pipes.

Determine the size of the water pipes in the home and around the home - they will help to determine the water pressure that you'll have. For water pressure to be adequate, the lines should be ¾" to one inch directly from the main water source for the home. The pipes themselves should be at least a ½" in diameter to provide adequate flow.

Inspect the home's Hot Water Heater. You will be looking to see if it is big enough to accommodate your needs (a family of four should have at least a 40 gallon tank), where it is located, and the water heater's age. Check to see if there is a buildup of mineral deposits in the tank, if possible. Mineral deposits can settle on the tank's bottom, leaving less room for water - which will mean that less water will be heated and available for use. Also, corrosion of the tank's elements can cause the tank to have a short life. If the water heater is old or you see obvious signs of corrosion, request that a new one be installed.

Make sure that the plumbing throughout the home is prepared for freezing weather by having pipes wrapped. (For cold weather zones) The vents throughout the home should be the type that can be closed off in the winter time during periods of intense cold. For homes with wells, the well should be protected in some fashion from bitter cold as well.

Determine the type of Sewage System the home has, whether waste goes to a municipal sewer system, or if there is a septic tank installed. If the home has a septic tank, find out where it is installed on the property, how much the tank holds, and where the lines to the septic tank are located.

Ideally, you want a map with the paperwork that comes with your home that shows where the Tank and all lines to the tank are located. Also, ask the owner or seller when the tank was last emptied or serviced. Look for signs of seepage around the area where the tank is located, or for standing water or noticeable odors - all of which are signs of a problem with the septic. Septic tanks can be very expensive to replace or repair - so if there is a problem, demand that it is fixed prior to closing the deal.

Inside the Home

Inside the home, check the Kitchen Faucets and bathroom faucets for leaks or drips. Check underneath sinks to check for leaking pipes. Flush the toilet in each bathroom. They should empty and then refill correctly. Turn on the shower in the room farthest from the home's water source. Check the temperature of the water and the water pressure.

While many homes come with a home warranty that will cover the various systems within the home for a specific period, you can still be out of pocket if the plumbing system is in disrepair and your home becomes damaged as a result.

If you are a bit handy and have the time to do repair work yourself, you can also use the results from your home plumbing inspection to negotiate a lower price on the home to accommodate for the supplies and labor involved in correcting any problem points.

However, we invite you to become part of The Ben Franklin Society of the Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach, as a member you receive a professional safety inspection, leak check and water heater tune-up for your plumbing system annually, breakdown-free guarantee and premier client rewards. You also get a 15% discount on repairs and replacements.

Our professional team and our highly skilled plumbers are expertly trained and experienced to exceed your expectations. For your Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach emergency plumbing needs contact our emergency plumbers, Ben Franklin Plumbing. We are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to solve all your plumbing problems at your convenience. you can also visit us online at: http://www.benfranklinplumber.com/wp/maintenance-service-plans/ for all your plumbing needs.

ST. LUCIE (772) 236-6080

MARTIN (772) 214-3848

PALM BEACH (561) 316-9007

INDIAN RIVER (772) 617-0370

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Ways to Prevent a Plumbing Catastrophe during Christmas

During Christmas, everything seems to change, family reunions, hosting friends at home, meeting new neighbors, preparation of food, endless possibilities that you and your home is expose to a different routine. Based on that challenging season we considered this article very useful to help you to prevent a plumbing catastrophe, specially during Christmas time.

Its plumbing safe to try on your own, correct? Even when there are many simple DIY plumbing projects, more complex projects needs the help of an expert, because it’s a job that people spend years and years learning how to do well as plumbers. Becoming a master plumber takes 8 years, in fact. That’s as much as a doctor. So, when it comes to dealing with plumbing emergencies, prevention is the name of the game. Follow this common ways to prevent a plumbing catastrophe at home:

1. Know where your main water shutoff valve is and if it works

It is important to know where your main water shutoff valve is. If any plumbing problems arise, this will allow you to quickly stop the incoming flow of water into your house. It is also a great thing to know about if you will be doing any minor DIY work. 

2. Check plumbing fixtures

Regularly checking your toilets, tubs, sinks, valves and other fixtures will help to ensure problems aren’t being discovered the wet way. Every 2-3 months, making a lap around your house inspecting your fixtures for any damage. Check the place where the fixture meets the drain. If anything looks wrong or broken, get some professional help.

3. Freeze-proof your pipes

Even Thought winter in Florida is no that aggressive, it’s important to recognize that your plumbing also needs to be fitted for the change of the weather. On unusually cold days, cabinets containing plumbing should be left open toward the heated room, and rooms with exterior plumbing should be kept no colder than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Only use matching components

If you need to replace a connector or a pipe fitting, you should always make sure you are using matching components. Size and materials are both important. We see a lot of damage done by people connecting the wrong types of pipes in attempted DIY work. Because a break in this fixture, for instance, could leave you up a certain creek 

5. Test your sump pump

Sump pump systems keep pesky ground water from seeping into your house through the basement. Every 3-4 months, test your sump pump system by pouring enough water into the pit to trip the float and make the pump run. The pump should remove the water. If it doesn’t, make sure it’s plugged in and connected to electricity. If it properly plugged in and still doesn’t work, then call the experts.

6. Call a professional, Call Benjamin Franklin

As we mentioned there is a follow up steps that could be made in order to prevent a catastrophe, however plumbing is not really a DIY activity. Attempting to “learn by doing” with the stuff under your house and in your walls, could damage both your house and your walls. In situations where you are unsure, call a professional to have their advice.

We recommend our professional team; our highly skilled plumbers are expertly trained and experienced to exceed your expectations. Plumbing emergencies can happen at any time day or night, so you can’t afford to wait for normal business hours to call a repair technician. 

For your Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach emergency plumbing contact Ben Franklin Plumbing emergency line. We are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to solve all your plumbing problems at your convenience.

Wishing you a safe and Happy Holidays! 

EMERGENCY SERVICE: (877) 236-1776

ST. LUCIE: (772) 236-6080

MARTIN: (772) 214-3848

PALM BEACH: (561) 316-9007

INDIAN RIVER: (772) 617-0370

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What to do if your Water Heater is Leaking?

A water heater leak may seem like just a minor issue, but if you don’t get this problem fixed in a short time, a water heater failure can cause a significant flood in your house. This can also lead to weighty repair bills, and cause mold to sprout, which can be hazardous to your health as well as lead to even more damage to your property.

Hot water heaters, whether gas or electric, will last you about 10 – 12 years (depending on how good you take care if it). Even so, there’s always a chance your water heater could leak.

Water heaters will typically leak from one of two places. Depending on where the leak is located, you may or may not need a new water heater.  Take a few minutes to determine where the leak is actually coming from, and you may be able to fix the leak yourself with little or no cost. 

Where to Start?

Step 1: The first thing you have to do before starting work on the water heater, is to turn off the power and the gas, and shut off the water to the heater to avoid possible shock or burns.

Step 2: When you have completed the previous steps, you have to drain the water tank. To do this, you have to let the water flow through a hose until the tank is empty. The water should run outdoors, or to a large bucket (it’s not recommended that you empty the water inside of your house).

*Caution: Remember that the water exiting the water heater will be very hot!

Step 3: Identify the leak’s location:  Sometimes the location of the leak is obvious, but a pool of water can also show up some distance from where the leak occurs.  Once you experience a leak from your water heater, there are two places where the leak may come from:

1. The drain valve also called (Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve), which is the spigot at the bottom of the tank that drains the water.

2. The water heater’s tank: The leak may even be at the top of the water heater, and simply running down through the body of the heater before escaping at a lower level. Water heaters have limited life spans; it’s possible that your tank has become corroded. 

If there is a puddle close to your water heater, condensation could be an explanation too. Condensation occurs when most of the water inside the tank is cold, so the cold tank, reacting with the warmer air inside the home, causes condensation. The water then drips off the tank and onto the floor, which gives the false appearance of a leaking tank. 

Step 4: Repairing or replacing the tank: As stated above, water heater leaks can be a serious problem, so take action quickly! 

If the leak comes from the drain valve, you have to make sure that the bottom valve is fully closed by turning the valve control clockwise. If this does not solve the problem, there could be another problem that requires a professional plumber to repair.

Replacement valves for hot water heaters are available at most hardware stores, and can be replaced using only a wrench. Turn the existing valve counter clockwise to remove it. Wrap the threads of the replacement drain valve with plumber’s tape, and then screw the new valve into the opening until it is hand tight.

If the water heater is leaking from the tank itself, you certainly have to contact a licensed plumber to replace it, because there is no way to repair a leaking tank. The inside of the tank eventually corrodes from mineral deposits and from the constant strain of heating and cooling. 

If you choose to replace your water heater yourself, you will need to properly dispose of the old unit, but either way, the best advice is to call a professional plumber. 

How to Extend the Life of Your Hot Water Heater

To avoid these kinds of problems, which can happen to all of us, the following practices can help extend the life of your hot water tank, as well as keep it operating at its maximum efficiency.

• Drain the tank yearly.

• Replace the anode rod that is inside the tank every 6 months or so.

Any time your hot water heater’s tank begins leaking, the safest thing to do is call a professional plumber who can assess the problem and determine if you need to replace your water heater. Do you live in the Treasure Coast Area?

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of the Treasure Coast and Palm City can repair or replace your water heater, and help you choose a new one that’s right for your family’s needs.

Be sure and check out the current rebates for tankless water heaters.

Contact us here:

ST. LUCIE (772) 236-6080.

MARTIN (772) 214-3848.

PALM BEACH (561) 316-9007.

INDIAN RIVER (772) 617-0370

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Tips to conserve water

It’s not a secret that our planet is running out of water, consequently it gets more expensive by the day. Most responsible people want to keep and conserve water, but we still need to use it in our daily activities; so here are some tips that you can put in practice to conserve water and save money:

The use of chemicals:

• Don't use too many detergents, bleach or chemicals. This could kill the natural bacteria in your septic system.
• Try to use soaps and detergents that are biodegradable.

Sprinklers:

• When using sprinklers in summer time, buy a spring-loaded timer, that will avoid the excessive water loading of your grass and control it in case you forget to shut it down.

Water pressure:

• When your water pressure is over 60 pounds per square inch, it will damage your plumbing system and will also increase your consumption. If you find out that your water pressure in your street is exceeding 60 pounds, you can install a pressure reducing valve that will limit the water pressure within your home.

Water leaks:

• Check for undetected water leaks reviewing your water meter during a period of time when you are not using water, take notes of the meter reading and check it 8 to 10 hours later. If the meter has moved, it means you should correct the issue.
• The consumption of a leaky toilet in your house is more than 40% of all the usage. Call a plumber for advice, you may have to install a new toilet flapper and fill valve.
• A faucet leaking that drips once per second can actually drop more than 8 gallons per day, which adds to 3,000 gallons per year. Always check your faucet.

Showers:

• When you replace an old shower head you can save up to 7.5 gallons of water per minute without taking away full spray action at low or high water pressures. Also, don’t forget to shut off the shower when you are not using it!

There are many things you can do to conserve water, put in practice these simple actions and you will see that your water bills will reflect your efforts. 

If you need us to check your home in order to detect any situations that could be wasting water, please contact us:

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing - Contact

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