How to Know when You Should Replace a Plumbing Component Over a Repair

It goes without saying that engaging in ongoing home repairs can extend components of your home’s lifespan and save you money at the same time. However, when do you know if a component is salvageable, or if repairs even make financial sense?

For many of your home’s plumbing components, age is a factor, but there are other signals that tell you to repipe rather than repair.

Replace the Washing Machine?

If your washing machine is more than eight years old, right off the bat, it may not be worthwhile for you to sink any more money into fixing it. Other trouble signs include a machine that shakes, leaks a lot or makes banging noises.

Don’t forget to check your washing machine’s connector hoses. They need to be replaced every 5-7 years. If they decay and rupture, you could be faced with major water damage. For extra peace of mind, put in braided stainless steel hoses rather than rubber.

Replace the Sink?

What’s wrong with your sink? Is it smelly? Get a drain cleaning done to fix that? Leaky faucet? You can likely fix that. However, if you are dealing with a leak, check out the plumbing beneath the sink. Is it rusty or covered in mineral deposits?

This is a circumstance where it makes far more sense to replace than to repair. As plumbing ages, it gets rusty and starts to deteriorate, hence the leaks.

When to Replace Your Shower

If you see black mold anywhere on your shower, alarm bells should go off. Replace it immediately because it is toxic for your family.

Also, if your shower head is full of sediment, or has uneven water pressure, get yourself a new one. If you’ve got low water pressure everywhere in your home realize that it isn’t a showerhead problem, but that you probably have a hidden leak somewhere.

Water Heater Replacement?

If your tankless heater is close to 20 years old, or if your storage tank heater is 10-15 years old, don’t bother trying to fix it. It is at the end of its lifespan. Other problems that will require major repairs include corrosion and large leaks.

If you have a storage tank heater, no matter how old it is, you may want to upgrade it to a tankless heater, which works on demand and saves you money.

If you aren’t sure what you should do with your plumbing, you can always call on your trusty Calgary, AB plumbers for help.