The importance of the lifespan of my home’s plumbing.
Your home’s plumbing is always hard at work, and without it, your entire house would be flooded and unhygienic. It’s the backbone of your house, secretly keeping it in great shape. But with this, comes a price. Wear and tear lead some of the pipes to corrode, and some parts need to be replaced more often than other elements. Each part has a lifespan, and the more you look after your plumbing, the longer the lifespan will be.
The first step to maintaining a longer lifespan for your plumbing is knowing exactly what you have at home. With this knowledge, you’ll figure which parts can last for how long, and what care you need to provide.
Before moving into your home, you should always ask or get a home inspection report done. This document, paired with warranties, gives you a better idea about the plumbing system you own, the time it was installed, and how much longer will last.
Lifespans of various plumbing pipes.
- Brass, iron, or steel pipes usually have a lifespan of 50-70 years.
- Copper pipes usually have a lifespan of 70-80 years.
- PVC pipes, while they have a shorter lifespan of 50 years, are not as expensive and are the safest to use in today’s day and age.
Now let’s take a look at the lifespan of your home’s plumbing in terms of various appliances.
Water Heaters
Water heaters are in operation mode daily to give you a nice, hot shower. Your water heater’s lifespan depends on the number of people in your home and how often it is used. The more you switch it on, the lower the lifespan. In general, the lifespan of different types of water heaters are:
- Hot water heater without a tank: 20 years
- A classic hot water heater: 12 years
- Water heaters with a heat pump: 10 years
Once you know about the lifespan, it becomes easier to call in an expert and to try to extend it.
Toilets
Without toilets at home, it’s not possible to operate normally. Toilets have a general lifespan of 50 years, however, if it’s not maintained regularly, this period isn’t guaranteed. While a toilet is constructed with a simple design in mind, it has quite a few moving parts, which might need to be replaced over its lifespan. However, if you have issues with flushing or if the bowl itself is cracked, it’s advisable to get a new toilet instead of trying to fix it. In case your toilet was built in the 90s, the better option would be to replace them completely. This is because the toilets in the olden days use more water and also increase your overall water bill.
Faucets
While faucets have truly evolved over the years, it’s important to have functioning ones throughout your kitchen and home. Nowadays, technology has come up with touch-free and smart faucets, but even now, continual use leads to the accumulation of mineral deposits, brought forth from hard water used in homes. Often, repairing or replacing the cartridge is all it takes to fix the faucet. However, if rust still comes from your faucet or if it is leaking constantly, you must consider replacing it.
Sump pumps
One of the main components of your home’s plumbing system is the sump pump. This pump is designed to keep your house dry in case of events such as unexpected rains. The lifespan of this is around 10 years, and if you feel that your pump’s time is approaching, the best option would be to get it inspected by a professional.
Water tank
A water tank is very important as it ensures that the water in your house is running. Depending on how much you’ve used it, this can have a very long lifespan. It’s especially important to check the plumbing system connected to the tank. If you don’t check these properly, your water tank can get infected, leading to water-borne diseases. Water is your lifeline at home and you want to ensure that it’s completely safe to use.
Supply pipelines
These pipelines are the ones that bring water into your home. Mostly they are made of brass, copper, or steel, and each lifespan of the pipe varies as per its type. It’s important to get these checked as they are the reason why water’s available at home. You need to get professional inspections conducted on these supply pipelines at least twice a month.
Drainage lines
Drain pipes, usually crafted from PVC or Iron, are found in more contemporary buildings. Those made from cast iron or steel are found in older buildings and can last up to 100 years, but the water can become undrinkable if the pipes turn to rust. PVC pipes, on the other hand, can last for more than 75 years if used properly.
Dishwashers and washing machines
Each dishwasher and washing machine has a different lifespan, depending on the brand, quality, and how often it is used. For example, a good quality washing machine, if used daily for one cycle, it can go up to 15 years without any problems. Dishwashers, on the other hand, if used once per day, should be able to last 9 years. However, both of these lifespans are dependent on how well you take care of your appliances.
Wear and tear is normal, and so, if you find your washing machine or dishwasher acting up, it’s best to get it checked by a professional. These are essential appliances in any household and need to be fixed as soon as possible or replaced if they can’t be fixed.
Did you get a better idea?
Each house has a wide range of plumbing fixtures, with each serving different features, and each being pivotal to the proper functioning of a household. It’s important to keep track of all these fixtures, pipes, and where they are in their current lifespan so that you can protect your pipes against bursts or malfunctions. Is your house old? Has your plumbing been used beyond it’s limits? Get them checked and inspected by an expert.
Octopus is an expert in offering top-notch plumbing services to households in Dubai. Once you enter into an annual maintenance contract with us, our experts will visit your house, check all your pipes, and let you know if you need to replace anything. They will also take care of leaks and repairs to extend the lifespan of your plumbing.
Call our toll-free number, 800 3993, for more information.
