That’s a loaded question because your home has many different kinds of plumbing pipes. You have interior water pipes, exterior water lines, and sewer pipes. Here at Escondido Plumbing Whiz we work on all residential pipes.

Here are some things you need to know about the life expectancy of your home’s pipes.

Interior Water Pipes

These are the pipes that connect to your kitchen and bathroom sinks, your shower heads, bathtub faucets, washing machine, water heater, and more. These pipes can be metal or plastic depending on their usage and the age of your home.

Older homes may have copper piping, cast-iron or lead pipes. Whereas, newer homes may have more plastic (PVC) piping because it’s more flexible and lasts longer.

Interior water pipes can last a long time as long as you maintain your plumbing system. Be careful about what you rinse down the sink or flush down the toilet. Also, stay away from liquid drain cleaners. The chemicals in the cleaners can corrode metal pipes and they don’t do a good job of getting rid of clogs anyway.

Exterior Water Line

These are the pipes buried under your yard. Everyone has a main water line that carries fresh water from the municipal water supply to the house. Some people may also have sprinkler water lines or water lines that connect to pond or other landscape water features. These lines offshoot from the main water line.

Underground water lines can be plastic or metal. They can last decades without any problems, but you have to be careful not to damage them. Digging accidents affect these lines the most. Make sure you know where your home’s water line is before you dig post holes, landscaping holes, or any other type of digging.

Sewer Pipes

Residential sewer pipes handle more water than interior or exterior water lines. The reason being that your home’s sewer pipe removes every bit of water from your house. Any time you rinse something down the sink, do a load of laundry, flush the toilet, or run the dishwasher, the water goes out through the sewer pipe.

Sewer pipe can last for 50-75 years. However, most don’t last as long as they could. There a couple reasons for this. First, older homes have sewer pipes made from clay or cast-iron. These materials don’t hold up well to changing soil conditions (clay) and have a tendency to corrode (cast iron).

The other problem with sewer pipes is that they often develop small problems that homeowners are unaware of and this leads to bigger issues. For example, all it takes is for a tiny crack to form in the pipe wall and a leak develops. This crack can also invite root intrusion, which can lead to serious clogs.

How to Keep Your Pipes in Optimal Shape

The best way to keep your home’s piping in great condition is to maintain it. At Escondido Plumbing Whiz, we recommend that all homeowners have their plumbing inspected yearly. It doesn’t matter if you have a new construction home or a 50-year-old house. Committing to a yearly plumbing inspection means you’re less likely to be woken up by a burst pipe in the middle of the night.

For the best plumbing service in Escondido, CA, call your friendly neighborhood plumbers. We’re always here for you and take your calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!