Does a home warranty cover pipes with rust and corrosion?
Key takeaways:
The Built-in Systems warranty plan from Cinch Home Services covers repairs for pipes with rust and corrosion. Cinch offers top-notch warranty plans to protect your home appliances and systems from normal wear and tear, including pesky corrosion issues, by ensuring you have access to proper repair and maintenance.
Besides corrosion and rust perforation, Cinch’s Built-in Systems plan also covers other plumbing systems, including valves, hoses and seals for toilets, spas, pools, faucets, showerheads and more.
This article will discuss why plumbing systems develop rust and how long they typically last. We will also look at the common signs that your plumbing system has rust, how to know if your corroded pipes require replacement, and the coverage options from Cinch home warranties.
Why do home plumbing systems rust?
Rust occurs due to a reaction between iron and oxygen (oxidation). The remaining residue from this reaction is deposited inside or outside of pipes and can accumulate over time, leading to serious plumbing issues.
Rust affects pipes made from certain metals. The reaction between oxygen and iron causes these pipes to weaken and eventually break. Rust can create unexpected water leakages in the plumbing systems inside or outside your home.
Plumbing systems typically rust because they’re made from outdated materials. In the past, homeowners mainly used iron and galvanized steel for plumbing. Most of these pipes were untreated or lacked any protection from rust. Though some of these old pipes remain operational, their quality has likely greatly degraded.
Plumbing systems can also rust when exposed to acid, salt or other chemicals inside water. Areas with a low water pH might experience more rusting than other regions.
How long does a home plumbing system typically last?
The longevity of your home plumbing system varies depending on the quality and type of materials used. As a general rule, home plumbing systems last for at least 20 years.
Here’s a breakdown of how long your home plumbing system may last, depending on the plumbing materials:
- Galvanized steel. Between 20 and 50 years
- Copper. Between 50 and 100 years
- Cast iron pipes. Between 75 and 100 years
- Brass. Between 40 and 70 years
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride). At least 100 years
Today, most home plumbing systems use polyvinyl chloride or PVC since this plumbing is lightweight and long-lasting.
Signs your home plumbing system has rust or corrosion
They say prevention is better than a cure. Knowing if your home plumbing system has rust or corrosion can allow you to take appropriate steps to prevent further damage.
Here are common signs that may indicate your plumbing system has rust or corrosion:
- Water discoloration. If you notice water discoloration at any point in your home, it may indicate that some part of your plumbing system has rust or corrosion.
- Taste. Sometimes you might drink water and find it has a strange, metallic taste. This may indicate that certain pipes are rusting.
- Low water pressure. If the water pressure in your home decreases for no obvious reason, it may indicate that rust is forming in your plumbing system. Debris or materials from the corroding areas may build up inside the pipes and restrict water flow.
- Frequent clogs. If you experience frequent blockages in your plumbing system, it could mean that debris from corrosion is blocking the pipes.
- Leaks. Pipes that rust or corrode weaken over time. As a result, pipes can end up bursting and causing water leakage.
- Odor. Besides the metallic taste, water from corroding pipes can also produce a distinct smell. Watch out for this sign to avoid drinking contaminated water that could negatively impact your health.
Do corroded pipes need to be replaced?
Corroded pipes can contaminate your water. Corrosion and rust also lead to low water pressure, frequent leakages and clogs.
Whenever a pipe has rust or corrosion, it will typically have to be replaced.
Plumbers will likely go through your entire plumbing system to ensure that other pipes are not affected. Though necessary, this process is expensive and can be inconvenient. A Cinch Built-in Systems warranty plan can help cover the cost in the event that you need to replace pipes from rust.
How can you maintain your home plumbing system?
Replacing parts of your home plumbing system is quite expensive. You can save money and avoid the inconveniences of replacing plumbing systems through proper maintenance.
Below are the top tips for maintaining your home plumbing system:
- Keep your drains clear. You may experience clogs at different drainage points in your home. In such cases, do not use chemicals to unblock the drainage system because they can cause rust and corrosion. Instead, use a mixture of water, baking powder and vinegar to remove the clog.
- Check for leaks. You should check for leaks in and around your home regularly. Besides contributing to a high utility bill, leakage can also cause low water pressure inside the house. To avoid ruining your warranty or experiencing other unexpected plumbing issues, work with professionals to seal leaks rather than take on a DIY project.
- Check your water pressure. Home plumbing systems can accommodate water pressure between 40 and 60 psi. When the water pressure is too high, it can cause your plumbing system to strain and lead to issues such as pipe raptures.
- Inspect exposed pipes. Poor or unsuitable conditions near exposed pipes can cause them to rust or corrode. You should watch for objects or conditions that might affect the pipe negatively. For starters, avoid hanging your clothes or other items on pipes since they’re not designed to hold much weight and can break.
- Clean showerheads and faucets. Debris and other sediments can build up in showerheads and faucets over time. This buildup can clog the inlet pipes, causing water pressure to drop. Consider cleaning your showerheads regularly to prevent blockages.
- Look out for foreign objects. Foreign objects entering your plumbing system will cause undesired consequences, including blockages. Avoid flushing garbage and other materials down your toilet. Non-flushable materials can build up over time and cause an expensive repair.
- Ensure your shut-off valves are functional. When you have water leakage in your home, you should first turn off the water supply using the shut-off valves. This can be challenging if the valves have accumulated dirt and are difficult to turn. To avoid this issue, turn the valves occasionally to ensure they don’t rust or corrode.
How expensive are home plumbing system repairs?
The overall repair costs can be concerning whenever you suffer any damage to your plumbing system.
Here’s a breakdown of the common plumbing repair costs:
- Leaking pipes. You might experience leaking pipes in your plumbing system, possibly due to rust and corrosion or other unknown issues. The repair cost for leaking pipes varies, often falling between $150 and $450.
- Burst pipes. A burst pipe is one of the worst things that can happen to your plumbing system. It could mean sudden water shortages or sewage spilling into your home. If pipes in your plumbing system burst, the repair costs can range between $1,000 and $4,000.
- Main water line leak. As the name suggests, the main water line is responsible for bringing water into your house. Therefore, you may experience low water pressure or a complete water shortage if there are leaks in the main water line. Repair costs for these leakages usually fall between $500 and $4,000.
- Leaky faucets. Cleaning and fixing faucets that leak usually costs between $150 and $600.
- Sewer line cleaning cost. You must clean your sewer line regularly to prevent sediments from building up and blocking the system. The average cost to clean a sewer line costs between $150 and $800.
- Slab leak. When building a new house, plumbing lines are usually fixed before concrete is poured on the floor. Over time, the pipes under the slab may corrode and leak. The cost of repairing a slab leak usually falls between $500 and $4,000. Plumbers might need to remove parts of your floor to access the leaking area. This means you may face other repair costs.
- Toilet installation. The average cost of installing a toilet is between $400 and $800.
- Pipe replacement. If certain pipes have rust and corrosion, they can be replaced for about $300. However, if the plumbing system in your house needs to be replaced, the cost may be as high as $7,000.
How do Cinch home warranties cover plumbing?
If not fixed quickly, plumbing issues can cause massive disruption in your home. Water leakages, for example, lead to high utility bills and cause wood to rot and mold to grow in different places, thus damaging your property. Additionally, the presence of rust and corrosion in your plumbing system can impact your health negatively.
Find peace of mind by avoiding most plumbing issues through regular checks and maintenance. Cinch’s Built-In Systems home warranty plan covers more of your plumbing issues than many other home warranty companies. Below are some of the issues it covers:
- Shower arms, showerheads and faucets
- Breaks and leaks of water, gas and waste
- Pools and spas
- Clearing of shower, bathtub, sink or toilet blockages
- Built-in pumps, motors and pressure regulators
- Permanently installed sump pumps
- Well pumps used to provide water in your home
Cinch also offers add-on or extended warranty coverage for other plumbing systems, including pools, spas and other upgrades.
Though Cinch’s Built-in Systems plan covers many plumbing issues you might experience, it has its limits.
Below are some plumbing issues and components the home warranty does not cover:
- Holding or storage tanks
- Saunas and steam rooms
- Septic tanks
- Toilet seats and lids
- Showers, bathtubs, base pans and shower enclosures
- Repairs for lines broken or blocked by foreign objects
- Stoppages or blockages outside your home
- Pre-existing conditions and water damage as a result of poor maintenance
- Water purification and filtration systems
To ensure that you qualify for a corrosion protection home warranty, Cinch recommends following these steps:
- Ensure your water drainage system is free of obstructions.
- Keep plumbing appliances such as water heaters in good condition.
- Check your pipes for leaks regularly.
- Use hot water to flush sediments from your plumbing system.
- Hire a home inspector to assess if your property has any plumbing issues.
Protect your plumbing system from costly, unexpected repair bills with Cinch
Many of us will experience plumbing issues at one point or another, which can result from factors such as rust and corrosion or normal wear and tear.
A plumbing issue, such as a small leakage, can cause significant damage to a property if not corrected quickly. Pipes that have rust and corrosion may need to be replaced, and that’s expensive. With more than 40 years of experience providing warranty home services, Cinch can help you avoid a breakdown in your plumbing system with regular maintenance.
Unlike other warranty companies, Cinch’s Built-in Systems plan covers the cost of repairing or replacing major built-in home systems due to normal wear and tear, including major components of your plumbing system. Cinch even offers a Complete Home plan with expanded coverage, protecting appliances like ceiling fans, water heaters, HVAC systems, air-conditioning systems, refrigerators and other electrical systems.
Get started by understanding how a home warranty works and request an instant quote from Cinch today.
* Subject to plan terms and conditions.
*The information in this blog library is intended to provide general guidance on home warranties, and on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all of the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty or maintenance plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.
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