Deciding whether or not a water line repair or replacement is needed requires expert advice. The water service line is a pipe that comes into the home from a municipal utility. Any work that is needed on the water service line is often the responsibility of the homeowner. This includes a repair or if replacement is necessary. A few guidelines can help homeowners decide the next step.
Factors to Consider
There are three factors that will need to be considered to make an informed decision. This includes the material, its age, and the price for a repair or full replacement. Homeowners will typically require help from a licensed plumber to obtain this information.
Water Line Materials
Water service lines are typically made of material that includes copper, brass, and iron pipe. Most homes in the Tacoma are have galvanized water service lines.
Lead and Galvanized
Older areas of a city may have water service lines that are galvanized or lead. Repair work on this type of material is illegal in many major cities for health reasons. This means that the possibility of repair is eliminated. Many cities have undertaken projects to replace lead and galvanized water service lines. If this type of material is present, then replacement is necessary.
Age
Most water service lines have a life expectancy of 50 years. Water lines that are older will typically not be repaired. Replacement is the best option for older water service lines. If there are still many years of life expectancy left, then a repair is an option.
Comparing Costs
The costs between a water line repair and a full replacement will vary greatly. One thing to note for the cost is that the material is only 20 percent to 25 percent total price. The labor required for a repair will be about the same for a replacement.
Go for a replacement if the cost of a repair is 25 percent or more over the cost of a replacement.