How to Tell When You Have Clogged Pipes or Drains
Having dirty or clogged pipes and drains will cause problems throughout your entire plumbing system. When you know that your drains and pipes have become clogged, you’ll need to have a professional plumber clean your drains. It may even be necessary to replace your pipes altogether if the problem has gotten out of control.
If you’re renovating your Birmingham home anytime soon and the project will involve your plumbing at all, you’ll first want to determine the condition of your pipes and drains. Before you install any new plumbing fixtures, flooring, or cabinets, it would be very beneficial to go ahead and replace the old pipes.
But how can you tell if your pipes are dirty or clogged?
Water Flow and “Poor Water Pressure”
If you have a weak water flow in your home, that’s the first sign that you have clogs in your drains. If water isn’t flowing as quickly or as strongly as it should, it’s almost certainly the fault of the pipes. Homeowners frequently blame the problem on “poor water pressure” when it could be solved with a thorough pipe cleaning.
Water pressure should be consistent throughout your Birmingham home, and should never vary room-to-room. It should also be the same as other homes in your neighborhood. So if you notice water pressure at a neighbor’s is higher than your home, the trouble is most likely dirty pipes.
How to Evaluate Your Home’s Water Flow
Check the water throughout your home to be certain that the flow is similar at each faucet. If you find a faucet with a lower flow-rate, you’ll have to investigate further. This should also prompt you to thoroughly check your drains.
Independent of actual water pressure, any whirlpool tubs, showers, or toilets will not be able to function properly without adequate water flow. Before you put in any new fixtures, you’ll need to make sure that your pipes and drains are in perfect condition—otherwise, you risk harming your new fixtures.
Replacing Pipes
If you do need to replace your pipes, here are some things to remember:
- Plastic pipes are much easier to work with than metal pipes are.
- PVC pipe can only be used for cold water. Be sure you use the PVC pipe made for drinking water if that’s what you need.
- ABS pipe can be connected to several different kinds of metal pipe. Usually, however, it’s used in bathrooms for waste removal and drain.
- PEX can carry hot or cold water and is a great choice for home interiors.
- CPVC is mainly used for hot water and is a great substitute for copper pipe.
- Galvanized steel used to be used for water supply lines, but it was discovered to be susceptible to corrosion and mineral deposits. There’s a good chance galvanized steel pipes are what you’re replacing!
Our professional drain specialists offer water and sewer line excavation and replacement, and we can help you replace any pipes if necessary. We’ll perform a full evaluation of the drain and pipe system in your Birmingham before we do replace any pipes, and we’ll discuss your options with you.
