Meta Title: The Signs & Dangers of Lead Piping| North Hills Plumber Meta Description: It is a smart move for homeowners and building owners to be aware of the threats that previously installed lead piping can pose. Ingesting lead can subject you to numerous health risks, and having lead pipes can heighten these multiple serious risks to you and your family’s health. Before buying a house or property, make sure to get the piping checked by professionals, such as North Hills Plumber. However, there are some obvious indicators that you can take into account when questioning whether or not your home contains lead pipes. Lead plumbing has been used for centuries to build water pipes in the Western world, up until the early 1900s when its health risks were beginning to be known. In fact, “plumbing” is a latin word derived from “lead”. If your home or building was built before 1930, there is a much higher chance that it was built with a lead piping system as this was a common practice during that time. If your home was built before 1970, the pipe which connects from your property to the water main in the street is likely to be made of lead. Also, it was very common for homes to be constructed with a mix of copper pipes and lead solder before 1988. However there is no way to be certain if your house contains lead piping until you consult with a professional. One concern of having lead pipes is that it may contaminate your drinking water. Lead can easily corrode due to the chemicals which are found in tap water, which in turn releases this metal into the water itself. Unfortunately, water contaminated with lead does not taste, smell, or look any different than water without lead. Therefore, the only way to know if your drinking water contains lead is to send a sample to a laboratory and have it tested. The health effects of ingesting lead can damage your entire nervous system, as it is a poisonous neurotoxin. Symptoms include: -
Abdominal pains Weakness in fingers, wrists, or ankles Increase in blood pressure Anemia Damage to kidneys and liver Miscarriage in pregnant women Brain disorders
Lead has also been linked to permanent cognitive and learning disabilities in children who were exposed to extremely low levels of the toxic metal. If you find that your home contains lead plumbing, the only option to eliminate the risks of being exposed to lead is to have a professional completely remove and replace the piping system. Although it can be a very overwhelming and complex situation, at North Hills Plumber it is our priority to do our best in making the process as smooth and quick as possible.