Lead in household plumbing is a serious issue that can quietly affect the health of your family—especially children and pregnant women. If your Bellevue, WA home was built before 1986, it’s time to investigate whether your plumbing system includes lead pipes, lead-based solder, or brass fixtures containing lead.
Here’s how you can identify the risks—and what steps you can take to ensure your home’s water is safe.
🚨 Why Lead Pipes Are Dangerous
Lead is a toxic metal that can leach into your drinking water through corroded plumbing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is no safe level of lead in drinking water—even small amounts can cause serious health problems like developmental delays in children and kidney issues in adults.
👉 Source: EPA – Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
🏡 Does My Bellevue Home Have Lead Pipes?
If your home was built before 1986, it’s more likely to have lead-based plumbing. Here are some key indicators:
1. Check Your Main Water Line
- Find the pipe that brings water into your home, usually near the basement wall or water meter.
- Scratch the pipe’s surface with a key or coin:
- If it turns shiny silver and a magnet doesn’t stick, it’s likely lead.
- If it’s dull gray and magnetic, it’s likely galvanized steel.
- If it’s brownish or reddish, it’s copper.
2. Inspect Pipe Joints and Solder
- Older copper pipes may have been connected with lead-based solder, especially if installed before the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act amendment.
- Lead solder appears dull gray and can be scratched easily.
3. Evaluate Faucets and Fixtures
- Faucets manufactured before 2014 could contain up to 8% lead, while modern fixtures are required to have no more than 0.25% lead by weight.
👉 Source: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Lead-Free Requirements
đź’§ Test Your Water for Lead
Even if your pipes look fine, your water may still be exposed to lead. Here’s how to test:
🔹 Home Test Kits
- Available at most hardware stores and easy to use.
- Not always 100% accurate, but a good starting point.
🔹 Lab Testing
- The Washington State Department of Health offers a list of certified labs for water testing.
👉 WA DOH Certified Labs for Water Testing
🛑 What to Do If You Find Lead
If testing shows lead in your water or pipes, immediate action is essential:
- Avoid drinking or cooking with tap water until the issue is resolved.
- Use cold water only for consumption—hot water can leach more lead.
- Don’t boil water to remove lead—it doesn’t work.
- Contact a licensed professional to replace lead lines, solder, or fixtures with safe alternatives.
🛠️ Need Help? Trust Einstein Pros Bellevue
Lead pipe removal and plumbing upgrades aren’t just about convenience—they’re about protecting your family’s health.
✅ At Einstein Pros Bellevue, we offer trusted, licensed inspections and full lead line replacement services.
Whether you’re buying an older Bellevue home or improving your current one, we can help you identify and eliminate hidden plumbing dangers—safely and efficiently.
🔍 Final Thoughts
Lead in plumbing can be silent—but its impact is loud and lasting. Being proactive about checking for lead pipes in your Bellevue home could prevent major health problems and costly repairs down the line.
If you’re unsure where to start, let the pros handle it.
➡️ Book your Bellevue plumbing inspection today with Einstein Pros Bellevue.
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