While it’s necessary to keep a watch on your pipes on a regular basis, it’s much more important if you live in an older home. Pipes will generally reveal warning signs as a plumbing system ages. If you don’t keep a close eye on your pipes, you can miss indications of problems that could cost you a lot of money.

Look for the following signs that your pipes may need to be fixed or replaced in parts of your property that you would not think about, such as utility rooms, crawlspaces, and basements.

Leaks

Even a minor leak can indicate that something is badly wrong with your pipes and that they need to be replaced. They are most likely as old as the house and are beginning to decay.

The formation of mold or mildew on a bathroom wall or elsewhere in your home is one obvious symptom of a leak. Mold, of course, thrives in damp conditions, and a leaking pipe creates the ideal habitat for mold to thrive.

This is particularly true if the leak is concealed beneath a floor or behind a wall. While mildew in your shower isn’t usually a reason for alarm, seeing it elsewhere is a sign that there’s a serious problem.

Mold and mildew have an unmistakable musty odor. There is most likely a leak if you find it after you’ve carefully cleaned and sanitized your home.

Water with a Discoloration

Call a plumber as soon as you detect strange-colored water coming from your sink taps; rust is most likely in the pipes. Rust not only alters the flavor of your water, but it also causes it to harden, making it difficult to properly rinse soap from your clothes, skin, and dishes.

Tube Corrosion

If your pipe tubing is dimpling or flaking, it has most certainly been corroded to the point where it needs to be replaced. Furthermore, if your water has a high acid level, the tubing may corrode.

Additionally, if copper pipes are left inactive for a lengthy period of time, corrosion and water reactions to the flux used to connect pipes might occur.

Stains

If you notice stains behind your sink or discoloration on your walls, this could be an indicator of a problem. Take a peek at the ceiling of a room right beneath a second-floor bathroom, for example.

If it’s soiled, it’s possible that there’s a leak somewhere. Examine the neighboring walls if the ceiling appears to be normal. Any stains could indicate that the leak has progressed further down the pipe.

Make sure there are no stains or warping on the walls of your bathroom. This could indicate that the drywall has become damp and is bubbling. When this happens, it normally begins to deform and eventually disintegrate.

There’s a chance you’ll need to call a plumber to address the leak, and you could also need to hire a contractor to fix whatever drywall the plumber requires to tear.

Summary

These are just a few signs that your pipes are worn out and it’s time to repair them. If you don’t have the time or capacity to examine your plumbing yourself and want to be safe, arrange an examination with a qualified plumber.