Buying an old home can be a great investment that is both affordable and allows you to move in quickly. However, you do need to remember that older homes are made using old materials that are no longer used in modern-day construction. When it comes to your plumbing system, you can expect to experience a range of problems in an older home that you might not in a newer home.
Water Lines in Exterior Walls
In homes built before the 1970s, water lines were frequently installed in exterior walls. This creates a significant problem during the wintertime because your exterior walls are more susceptible to freezing temperatures. If you have water lines in your exterior walls, you need to be extra vigilant during the wintertime to ensure they don’t freeze. A good solution is to have your plumbing repiped so the pipes don’t run through any exterior walls.
Lead Pipes
Homes built in the early 1900s commonly used lead piping for water supply lines. As the danger of toxic lead poisoning has become more apparent Congress eventually banned its use from household plumbing in the 1980s. However, if you have an older home built around the 1900s, you might still have some lead piping in your home. You should have your water supply lines evaluated by a plumber to determine if they’re lead. If so, you want to replace them sooner rather than later.
Low Water Pressure
Older homes often experience issues with water pressure. In most cases, older piping simply struggles to meet the current demands of modern appliances. In some cases, however, debris can build up inside the water supply line or a faulty plumbing fixture could restrict water flow. Homeowners can install a water pressure booster system or update their existing piping to meet modern-day standards.
Deteriorated Sewer Line
Over the years, sewer lines have been made out of many types of materials. Both clay and cast iron sewage lines were common in the early and mid-1900s. However, they’ve been shown to deteriorate rather quickly. As your sewer line starts to deteriorate, it’s going to leak raw sewage into the surrounding area. You might notice lush green spots on your lawn where the sewage has fertilized the soil. In other cases, you may have a sewer backup if your sewage line collapses in on itself. Either way, you’ll need to get your sewer line repiped by a professional.
Tree Root Intrusion
If you have a lot of big trees on your property, they can create a problem in your plumbing system over time. Any small leaks or cracks in your sewer line can allow tree roots to penetrate your pipes. Trees will seek out your sewer lines as they have water, nutrients, and oxygen, which are necessary for their growth. While tree root intrusion may not be a huge issue when it first happens, it can turn into a really big problem over time as the roots grow thicker and thicker.
Draining Issues
One extremely common issue you’re going to run into with an older home is clogged drain lines. If your home is just 50 years old, think of all the soap scum, hair, and other debris that has made its way down your piping over the years. This debris can get stuck inside your pipes and lead to bigger clogs over time. Be on the lookout for gurgling noises and slow draining, which can be great indicators of an impending clogging issue. Watch out for bad-smelling drains, too, which can be an early indicator of a potential clog.
Pipe Belly
Just as your home can settle into the ground over time, so can your underground piping. While this isn’t a big problem with your main water supply line as it’s pressurized, this settling can be a real problem when it comes to your sewer line. When your sewer line dips down, it creates what’s known as a pipe belly. This is a low section of piping where water and waste can remain. This pipe belly not only increases your chance of having a clog in your sewer line, but its standing water is also a large attractant for tree roots.
Improper Repair Work
Just decades ago, homeowners often did their own repair work on their plumbing systems. Unfortunately without necessary plumbing knowledge, much of this repair work can end up creating more trouble for you. Some of the most common DIY repair problems you’re going to run into include unsecured piping, improperly installed water heaters, improperly sloped shower drains, and wrongly installed sink traps, all of which will require professional repair to get your plumbing system back on track.
Worn-Out Fixtures
With the average plumbing fixture lasting around 15 to 20 years, you may face some worn-out plumbing fixtures in your existing home. Over time, internal o-rings and washers can get worn out and allow the fixture to slowly leak. Furthermore, limescale build-up over time can cause inconsistencies with your water pressure and water quality. In some cases, you may notice an unpleasant odor coming from your faucet or showerhead.
Polybutylene Pipes
Polybutylene piping material was popular between the 1980s and 1990s. However, chemicals and oxidants continually added to public water supplies to purify the water negatively interacted with the polybutylene pipes. These pipes started to experience flaking, brittleness, cracking, and premature failure. Homes that have polybutylene pipes will experience frequent water leaks and will eventually need to be repiped.
Galvanized Pipes
Galvanized steel piping was another popular alternative used in the plumbing industry. While coated with a zinc layer, this layer wears down over time and is highly susceptible to corrosion. If you have galvanized piping, internal corrosion could seep into your water supply. With this issue, you’ll notice that your water changes to a rust color and can even have an odd taste. Unfortunately, you’ll need to have all your water supply lines repiped to avoid this rusty sediment from entering your water.
Lead Solder
If your home was built before 1978, it may contain lead solder used to adhere pieces of copper piping and joints together. As we’ve discovered over time, lead is dangerous to your health. As water flows through your piping and comes into contact with the lead-soldered components, the lead can get into your drinking water. This can lead to gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, memory loss, and much more. Get your pipes refitted or replaced if they contain lead solder.
Excellent Plumbing Service
Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling offers excellent plumbing service for the entire Indianapolis, IN community. We can also help with drain cleaning, sewer repair, sewer replacement, water heater, water softener, leak detection, sump pump, gas line, plumbing inspection, reverse osmosis system, trenchless repair, and septic tank needs. Give us a call today to schedule your next service appointment.
