The lifetime of water pipes in a detached house is 25-40 years. The lifespan of water pipes in private houses is the sum of many factors, as many factors affect the wear and tear on pipes. In this article, we describe the main reasons that affect the lifetime of water pipes in a private house and give some tips to help the average consumer assess the wear rate of water pipes in their private house.
What affects the wear and tear of a service water pipe?
Many factors affect the wear and tear of service water pipes, making it difficult to estimate the exact service life.
- Corrosion is the worst enemy of water pipes. If the house was built before the 1990s, the risk of corrosion is particularly high, as most of the water pipes used were either iron or copper. Today, new private houses are fitted with composite water pipes, which prolongs their lifetime. Composite pipes can last up to 50 years.
- High internal water pressures of up to 5-8 bar put constant strain on service water pipes. In addition, the pipes are subjected to momentary pressure shocks on a daily basis. Pressure surges occur when the tap is closed and the water stops flowing. For this reason, home taps should not be unnecessarily opened and closed with a constant flow of water.
- Condensed water, i.e. moisture that condenses in the air, eats away at the outer surface of the pipe. In confined structures, corrosion can be faster than usual if the circulating air cannot dry the pipe. In addition to humidity, air temperature variations can also affect the lifetime of pipes, as temperature variations can cause thermal expansion in the pipes, which in turn reduces the lifetime of the pipes.
- Construction errors made during installation are also an unfortunately common cause of pipe failures. For this reason, water pipes in a private house should always be installed by a professional to avoid serious water damage.
A burst water pipe is the worst type of water damage
A burst pipe can cause far-reaching and costly damage. The worst thing is if the pipe breakage is not immediately noticed and water is allowed to flow freely in cubic metres. Water easily destroys both the structure of the house and the furniture in the home. Naturally, the scope and price tag of the renovation will increase.
Water damage means a lot of dealing with different parties such as the insurance company and the local plumbing company. It can take weeks for structures to dry and residents may have to evacuate their homes. There are usually other costs associated with this that arise unexpectedly.
Depending on the extent of your home insurance, the insurance company will cover part of the damage and the costs caused by it. The deductible is typically at least a few hundred euros. The insurance usually excludes household furniture and, for example, a broken dishwasher.
Home insurance covers sudden and unforeseen damage, but if the water damage is caused by the owner’s negligence, the owner may be the primary payer.
Assessing the condition of water pipes
It is difficult to assess the condition of the water pipes yourself, as they are largely hidden in the building’s structure. The table below gives indicative estimates of the technical lifetime of the different pipes.
Pipe / Service life
- Outdoor thermal ducts 20
- Heat pipes in the building 30-50
- Cast iron radiators 50
- Flat batteries 30
- Heat pumps 15
- Expansion tank 30
- Heating controls 15
- Shut-off valves
- Battery thermostats 10
- District heat substation
- Domestic water piping 25-30
- Sewer piping in a building 30-50
- Mixers 10
- Toilet bowls 20
- Other water and sewerage points 30
The surest and easiest way to assess your condition is to order a fitness assessment from an expert.
Order a water, heating and sewerage survey or a description of the sewerage system from Taloturva. Hausoturva carries out condition surveys free of charge for detached houses with a plumbing system that is more than 30 years old. The free condition survey assesses the condition of your home’s plumbing and the risk of water damage. The price of the plumbing repair will also be revealed during the same visit. Based on the results of the survey, an assessment can be made of the timeliness of the pipe renovation.
What does it mean to replace domestic hot water pipes in a detached house
Renovating the plumbing in a detached house is quick and easy nowadays, and there is no need to evacuate your home during the renovation. The cleanest and cheapest way to renovate a private house, for example, is to install new pipes as surface water pipes, so that no structures need to be broken. In practice, the old pipes are emptied, cut and plugged. Pipes inside the structures are left in place. New, high quality and neat composite pipes are installed as surface drains. The work is done without dismantling the structures in up to 2-3 days. You will then have a clean, high quality and hygienic water supply system with a system guarantee and a long life cycle.
