Old homes are often charming with a sense of character that may be missing in more recently constructed houses. Of course, there's plenty to be aware of if you're thinking of buying or moving into an older home. It's crucial to inspect the most important elements of the house, and plumbing should be a high priority. Here are the plumbing issues you're most likely to face in an older house.
Failing Pipes
Many older homes have pipes that have reached the end of their lifespan. In addition to age, it's important determine what kind of pipes are used for plumbing in any old house. Older homes may have pipes and plumbing that are no longer up to code. Polybutylene pipes and galvanized steel plumbing, both fairly common in past decades, are now considered outdated and are no longer used for home plumbing. If your home has either of these, they will need to be replaced.
Failing Fixtures
Just as pipes begin to fail after many years, old fixtures and plumbing hardware do not last forever. Water shut-off valves, faucets, sprayers and nozzles all begin to degrade and fail after a number of years. In an old home, you may find leaky, corroded or otherwise problematic fixtures if they have not been upgraded recently. These are usually fairly inexpensive to replace with a modern fixture that looks better and works properly.
Faulty Workmanship
Perhaps the previous owners did the work themselves, and it's fairly common to see some fairly shoddy plumbing work in older homes. Sometimes, repairs are done hastily in the rush to prepare a home for selling. For your safety and to prevent costly damage down the road, make sure all of your plumbing is up to code and properly installed. You'll want to call in a trusted plumber to assess this. Makeshift plumbing just doesn't cut it.
Remember that even if an older home has undergone recent renovations, the plumbing may still need some attention. In such homes, some plumbing problems go undetected until the winter, as well. If you're buying a home, it's best to bring in an experienced, qualified plumber as soon as possible to inspect the plumbing, identify any issues and help you figure out the best way to move forward.
For answers to your questions, contact The Pink Plumber today.
