Most material stuff in your life has to be replaced at some point. Your shoes? They won’t last forever. Your computer? It wears out after so many years. Your car? Eventually, it breaks down beyond reasonable repair. So is it any surprise that your plumbing will have to be replaced at some point, too?
Of course, not all plumbing is the same. “Plumbing” is a broad category that’s going to encompass everything from your pipes to your faucets and appliances. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long each of these parts of your plumbing system will last. To add to that, how well you take care of them will go a long way in determining how soon they need to be replaced. Take care of it, and you’ll very likely find that your plumbing lasts a lot longer.
However, there are some reliable guidelines you can keep in mind when deciding whether your plumbing needs to be replaced. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
The supply pipes (as in, the pipes that supply the water to your entire home) are the pipes that get the most use. In fact, they’re pretty much under pressure every minute of the day that you’re awake — and even sometimes when you’re asleep. You can expect your supply pipes to need replacement before any of the other pipes within your home. When these pipes get old, you’ll very likely see leaking.
If you have copper pipes, some estimates say these could last about 50 years, while other estimates say they could last between 70 and 80 years. Brass pipes are a little more durable and can be expected to last up to 100 years. Galvanized steel and cast iron pipes are also likely to last up to 100 years. While you might not live as long as some of these pipes, bear in mind that if you have an old house, your pipes might be older than you. A house built with copper pipes in the 1950s could need replacement sometime soon if the pipes have never before been replaced.
Polyvinyl chloride, better known by the abbreviation PVC, is an inexpensive option for pipes, but it isn’t as durable as metal. While some plumbers are reluctant to put an exact number of the lifespan of a PVC pipe (yes, PVC piping is that unreliable), others will warn you that you might get only 25 years of life out of it.
While some pipes give out because of old age, others are damaged because of exterior forces like foul weather or even tree roots growing into the cracks.
In most cases, you will replace faucets and showerheads for aesthetic reasons before you actually reach the point of their failure to function. A good faucet could last upward of 50 years, but you might want to replace your faucets every 10 years to improve the look of your bathroom or simply because the faucet has become discolored and dirty. When you’re making upgrades to your bathroom, consider things like your water efficiency — some contemporary showerheads are made to use far less water, so keeping up with the latest technology might be reason enough to make an upgrade or replacement.
Drain lines to your washing machine take a lot of damage because of the amount of water a washing machine requires. Watch for any cracks or kinks in the drain line, which could result in leaks, and in general, be prepared to replace the plumbing going to and from your washing machine approximately every three years.
Your hot water tank needs to be replaced approximately every 10 years. You’ll know it is time to replace your water heater because you’ll notice rusting or leaking around the joints where it connects to pipes. You also might notice problems with your water tank’s ability to maintain a warm enough temperature even when you turn the thermostat up.
As a general rule of thumb, watch out for obvious signs that something is wrong. For example, if you notice water discoloration, this could be a sign that there is corrosion or rust in your pipes. If your water pressure seems low, this could be happening because of a leak somewhere. An unpleasant odor could signal that you have a buildup of bacteria. Only a plumber looking at your specific situation will be able to determine whether this is something that warrants replacement. While some of these problems can be mitigated with repair, there’s a good chance that corroded pipes or built-up bacteria are problems that need to be resolved with replacement.