Your home’s plumbing system is not the prettiest aspect of your home but it is one of the most important. In addition to carrying water in and waste out your plumbing system has a role in energy efficiency, water usage, comfort, and even the value of your home. Even though it plays an important role in the function of your property, homeowners rarely think about upgrading it.
Some of the benefits of upgrading to a modern plumbing system are reduced water bills, improved daily convenience and eliminates the need for replacements and repairs for years to come. Below we discuss why you should upgrade and what are the best value improvements you can make for your home.
Why Upgrade Your Plumbing?
Many UK homes have old and deteriorating plumbing, do you have noisy pipes, low water pressure or outdated fixtures? Carrying out plumbing upgrades can:
- Improve performance and efficiency
- Save water and energy lowering costs
- Boost resale value of your home
- Enhance hygiene and comfort
- Reduce the risk of leaks or burst pipes
Replace Old Pipes
Plumbing pipes consist of materials like galvanised steel, lead, and polybutylene that degrade over time. The pipes start to corrode and leak which can increase your water bill and even worse contaminate your water.
Common signs you need to replace your pipes:
- Discoloured water or metallic taste
- Frequent leaks or pipe bursts
- Low water pressure
- Pipes older than 50 years
Modern materials to consider:
- Copper: Durable, bacteria-resistant, and recyclable
- PEX (cross-linked polyethylene): Flexible, cost-effective, easy to install
- PVC: Common in drain lines, resistant to corrosion
UK’s Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) have reported that getting a plumber to replace your home’s water pipe system will reduce the risk of contamination and ensure that your home is in compliance with current standards.
Example: Rated People carried out a survey in 2023 that found that homeowners who replaced their plumbing system for new resulted in a property increase up to £4,000 in some UK regions like Norwich.
Install a Water Softener
Over 60% of the UK has hard water, this means the water contains a high amount of calcium and magnesium. This results in many problems for your home, homeowners themselves and also items used inside the home.
Problems hard water causes:
- Limescale builds up in the pipes and also effects appliances
- Reduced soap effectiveness
- Skin and hair becomes dry
- Limescale will reduce the lifespan of kettles, washing machines, and boilers
Installing a water softener is a great way of removing hardening minerals and improves the quality of water throughout your home.
Benefits:
- Prolongs appliance lifespan
- Improves water heating efficiency
- Reduces cleaning time and costs
- Softer laundry and smoother skin
Richard at Royal Flush Plumbing said “Installing a water softener can reduce energy bills by up to 25%.”
Upgrade to Low-Flow Fixtures
The old style of taps and shower heads are not well designed and waste litres of water every day. Modern low-flow taps, shower heads and toilets disperse less water better, prevent limescale build up and save you money.
Did you know?
- A standard shower uses 12–15 litres per minute
- A low-flow showerhead uses around half as much using only 6–9 litres per minute
Recommended upgrades:
- Low-flow showerheads
- Dual-flush toilets (use as little as 3–6 litres per flush)
- Aerated and motion sensor taps eliminate wasted water
Benefits:
- Lower the cost of your water bills
- Reduced energy use for heating wasted water
- Less strain on your homes plumbing system
Thames Water reported that the average UK household could save up to 50,000 litres of water per year by just upgrading to more efficient plumbing fixtures.
Install a Smart Leak Detector
Being able to catch a water leak early can save your home and your pocket. A water leak can cause severe damage to your home and is one of the most expensive issues to fix.
Common sources of hidden leaks:
- Toilet cisterns
- Under-sink pipes
- Boilers
- Radiator valves
Smart leak detectors are designed to track your water usage and when something irregular happens like a water leak the smart leak detector will send a notification to your phone about a potential leak.
Top brands to consider:
- Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water Leak & Freeze Detector
- Flo by Moen
- LeakBot (used by many UK insurers)
Why it is important:
- A burst water pipe can lead to major repairs and replacements that can cost anywhere between £5,000–£30,000
- Smart leak detectors catch a leak early to prevent further damage and the build up of mould
When to Call a Professional
Some plumbing upgrades like changing low-flow fixtures you can install yourself but larger work like changing your system requires a certified professional plumber.
You should call a plumber if:
- Pipework or boiler needs changing
- Anything related to gas appliances
- Changes affect your water supply or drainage compliance
Make sure your plumber is:
- Gas Safe registered (if working with boilers or gas lines)
- A member of CIPHE (Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering)
- Able to provide clear pricing and references upfront
Now that you know that small upgrades can have a big impact on your home and your wallet, next time you may take a closer look at your plumbing system.
