Aging buildings can be a nightmare if you haven’t properly planned for the upgrades. Most building systems are designed to last between 10 and 30 years before major repairs and replacements are needed. For example, most plumbing pipes only last an average of 20 to 50 years, depending on your water quality and the skill of the installer.
Why is a 30-year old building important?
If your building is 30 years old today, that means it was built in 1988. Think of all the building code changes and advancements that have been made in technology. HVAC systems are much more energy efficient. Electrical systems are safer, and plumbing pipes and solder are no longer allowed to contain lead due to the dangerous health effects. In fact, most systems are only designed to last about 30 years before they need to be upgraded or replaced. According to ASHRAE, you can expect your:
- Electronic controls to last up to 15 years.
- Roofing to last up to 25 years.
- HVAC units to last between 10 and 25.
- Windows to last up to 20+ years.
- Plumbing pipes to last between 20 and 70+ years.
The Importance of Planning for Upgrades
If you haven’t planned for upgrades since the construction of your building, you could be in for a financial surprise in the form of equipment breakdowns and pipe blowouts. Just imagine having to call an HVAC contractor several times during the summer to fix your air conditioning system or a plumbing to come out and repair and replace busted and clogged pipes. You could quickly deplete for maintenance and reserve funds in just a few service calls.
Upgrades You Should Plan for Today
- Roofing – If Your roof is old, it is more susceptible to wind, hail and rain damage, and a new roof can cost tens of thousands of dollars. By proactively planning and saving for a new roof now, you can avoid depleting your maintenance and upgrades funds and having to perform special assessments.
- HVAC – Old HVAC systems are prone to breakdowns, due to worn motors, condensers, fans and coolant leaks, and as the unit ages, it will need increasingly frequent repairs. If you’ve noticed an uptick in your HVAC repair bills, it’s time to start planning for its energy-efficient replacement before you’re forced to vote on a special assessment for your residents.
- Windows – New, modern windows are more energy efficient than their older counterparts. Not to mention, as windows age, they can lose their seals, resulting in leaks from storms that could damage the drywall and structural components under the windows. To save on your energy bills and prevent water damage, we recommend planning for window replacements prior to your building turning 30 years old.
- Electrical – If you’ve noticed outlets and switches that do not work or have flickering lights, it’s time to start thinking about upgrades and replacements before you start seeing sparks and smelling burning wiring. Not to mention, replacing your light fixtures and other electronic components with modern, energy-efficient components could save you money on your monthly electric bills.
- Plumbing– When your plumbing system reaches 30 years of age, most of your pipes and fixtures are near the end of their expected useful lives. At this stage, you’ll start to experience more leaks and plumbing pipe clogs. Saving money today and planning for future pipe repairs and replacements can help lessen the overall financial impact.
Plumbing Restoration with Nu Flow of Chicago
When it comes to planning for plumbing pipe repairs and restoration, you can count on the experienced pipe liners at Nu Flow to provide you with accurate plumbing restoration estimates. It all starts with a Building Pipe Assessment.
Building pipe assessments are great when you aren’t sure of the age of your plumbing system. In buildings that are 30 years old or older, some or all of the plumbing pipes may have been replaced in the past, and not all of your pipes may be manufactured from the same material. For example, you may can lead soldered copper in part of your potable water system and PEX or PVC in other parts. Your drainage and sewer system may also be comprised of different types of pipes, like cast iron and PVC.
Our pipe lining experts can perform a thorough camera inspection of all your plumbing pipes to determine the ages, types of material and corrosion levels, provide a determination for or against pipe lining and give you an estimate on the cost of lining all your plumbing pipes. Once you have the estimate, you can use it to plan for the future restoration of your plumbing system.
To learn more about our pipe lining services, call us at 815-790-9000.