When you think about replacing things around your home, you think about your clothes, your shoes, your mattress, and maybe even some of your kitchen appliances. Chances are pretty good, however, that you've never given much thought to replacing your plumbing pipes. Just like everything else in your home, however, your plumbing pipes do have a life expectancy.

If you have brass or galvanized steel pipes, for example, they can last for between 80 to 100 years. If you have copper pipes, on the other hand, they can last for 70 to 80 years. The question is – give that most plumbing pipes can last for a person's entire life – how can you tell if your pipes are worn out if you can't see through the walls?

Your Pipes Have Sprung a Leak

Even the smallest water leak around your home could be a sign you have a big problem with your pipes. The first thing you should do is stop and ask yourself how old your home is and what kind of pipes the home has. If your home is more than 60 or 70 years old and has never had any major renovation work, there is a chance the plumbing is just as old as the home and is reaching the end of its lifespan.

You may be asking yourself – how do you know you have a leak? Outside of random pools of water forming in your home for no reason, one sure sign that your plumbing is leaking is an accumulation of mildew or mold somewhere in your home. Typically, it will accumulate in your bathroom or your kitchen, but it can accumulate anywhere if there is a plumbing pipe on the other side of the wall that has sprung a leak.

If you believe your plumbing pipes have sprung a leak, you need to get a plumber out to your home to inspect the problem as quickly as possible.

Your Water is a Funky Color

Your water is supposed to be clear. It is never a good sign for your water to come out of your sink looking any color other than clear. Typically, this happens when there is rust in the pipes. Rust alters the color of water, makes it taste bad, and it hardens it. Rust can even make it more difficult to wash your clothing and your dishes. Rust is a surefire sign that you either have a leak or your pipes are becoming old and worn out. Either way, they will need the attention of a plumber.

Your Sink and/or Toilet Makes Weird Bubbling Noises

Unless you are boiling water or you have a child in the bathroom playing with a bubble machine, you shouldn't hear a bubbling noise every time you flush the toilet or use the sink. In fact, this sound occurs when air is not able to get out of the sewer lines. Typically, this happens when a pipe has become so worn out that it has broken.

If you are worried about your plumbing, it never hurts to have a plumber take a look. This is especially true if you have a leak, your water is a funky color, or your sink and/or toilet starts making weird bubbling noises.