Lead pipes used to be used in homes for plumbing. Lead is a strong material that is durable and resistant to corrosion. At the same time, lead is malleable enough that it can be easily installed. It was an ideal choice for plumbing. That is until we discovered that it contribute to greater levels of lead in our drinking water, which turns out not to be very healthy for us.
Lead exists in your body in small levels, but too much lead can contribute to serious health problems. Children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning since their nervous systems and brains are still developing. Toxic exposure to lead can stunt that development.
Symptoms of lead poisoning can include irritability, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constipation, and hearing loss. Other symptoms can include high blood pressure, joint or muscle pain, memory loss, numbness in the extremities, and even pregnancy loss.
If you move into a new home, it’s important that you determine if there are lead pipes. You may have a few lead pipes even if the whole system is not lead. It’s important that you have a plumber check the whole system for signs of lead. If you find it, here’s what you can do:
Repipe Your House
The only way to protect yourself from the dangers of lead pipes is to get rid of them. Lead is too dangerous to your family, and it will slowly leach from the pipes into your water supply. Since lead has not been used in plumbing for a long time, you also know that if you have lead pipes, they are old. Your system is likely nearing the point where it would have needed replacing anyway, even if it wasn’t made of a dangerous material.
Talk to a repiping company about your options for home repiping. You can choose from other metals, such as iron or copper, or you can choose PEX piping, which is a flexible and corrosion-resistant pipe that will last for decades. With the right piping material, you won’t have to worry about any threats to your water supply, either now or decades down the road.
Install a Filter
Once you have a plumber replace your pipes, you should have your water tested also. Your pipes may be safe, but your water may not be. Your city or well water could have unsafe levels of lead that could continue to slowly poison your family.
You can get some of that lead out of your water by installing a filter. You’ll need to look for a filter that is specifically designed for lead. You can install the filter for the whole house or for your individual faucets. A filter won’t protect you against lead completely, but it will significantly reduce the levels. You’ll need to make sure you are changing the filters on time to maintain protection.
Distiller
A distiller can give you clean drinking water if you have lead in your water. A distiller heats the water until it turns into steam. The harmful contaminants are moved, and the steam is condensed back into a liquid. You can ask a plumber to install a distiller to ensure that you always have clean drinking water, no matter what might makes its way into your supply.
The combination of home repiping and installing a filter and distiller can ensure that your home and your family are safe from lead in your water. Start with hiring an experienced plumber to test your water for lead levels. Then make sure you get regular inspections to ensure that your water stays clean and safe for all.
The repiping plumbers at Integrity Repipe can help you get clean, safe drinking water if you have an aging system. We perform home repiping in all types of materials, but we specialize in PEX piping, which is flexible, easy to install, and resistant to corrosion. With home repiping, you can be sure that you have clean water, and you can rest easy knowing that your home is protected for decades into the future. You’ll have to take additional measures to protect yourself against lead in your water supply. Call us today to learn more about home repiping or to make an appointment with one of our repiping plumbers.
Published by – Integrity Repipe Inc
Integrity Repipe Inc – Mission Viejo, CA
27281 Las Ramblas, Suite 200
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Phone: 877-473-7473
Website: integrityrepipe.com
Integrity Repipe Inc – San Clemente, CA
927 Calle Negocio Suite O
San Clemente, CA 92673
Phone: 949-397-2404
Website: integrityrepipe.com/san-clemente
Integrity Repipe Inc – Long Beach, CA
2201 N Lakewood Blvd, Ste D #297
Long Beach, CA 90815
Phone: 562-362-5040
Website: integrityrepipe.com/long-beach
Integrity Repipe Inc – Chula Vista, CA
591 Telegraph Canyon Road
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: 619-313-5744
Website: integrityrepipe.com/chula-vista
Integrity Repipe Inc – Ladera Ranch, CA
27762 Antonio Parkway L1
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
Phone: 949-397-2795
Website: integrityrepipe.com/ladera-ranch
Integrity Repipe Inc – Lakeside, CA
8337 Winter Gardens Boulevard
Lakeside, CA 92040
Phone: 619-494-3507
Website: integrityrepipe.com/lakeside
Integrity Repipe Inc – Aliso Viejo, CA
27068 La Paz Rd #771
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Phone: 949-449-1142
Website: integrityrepiping.com/aliso-viejo-repipe-copper-pex-ca
Integrity Repipe Inc – Oceanside, CA
1759 Oceanside Blvd C,
Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone: 442-300-3057
Website: integrityrepiping.com/oceanside-repipe-copper-pex
Integrity Repipe Inc – Porter Ranch, CA
19360 Rinaldi
Porter Ranch, CA 91326
Phone: 818-630-9265
Website: integrityrepiping.com/porter-ranch/