Common Plumbing Problems in Old Houses

Older houses are a charm in them that seems so attractive and inspiring that you cannot help yourself in getting out of that charm. They are mostly made from exclusivity. That obviously requires expensive material. Many young people who plan to buy their own house; they find an old house to be an attractive option.

They plan to buy a house that can look fabulous with little maintenance and repairs. This not only saves them a reasonable amount but they also get a house with contemporary design and structure having expensive material that is not found in recently built houses.

However, the old houses have many problems inside them that are hidden under the fancy walls and the contemporary architecture. Some of these issues are not very problematic but some of the issues are just like time bombs that can explode anytime and cause destruction. Therefore, if you are planning to buy a house that is a few decades old, then you should set aside some extra budget for the repairing and maintenance purpose.

When you are buying an old house, you should expect to have issues in any area of the house. It could be doors or windows. It could also be related to roofing that might be need to repair ASAP. The problem may be big or small, but you should keep in mind that you are going to live there. Therefore, you cannot ignore the issues and live as they are. You have to plan for repairing and maintenance as soon as possible to avoid any great damage in future.

Plumbing Problems in Old Houses

Anything wrong with the plumbing of your house is not a minor issue. It requires immediate attention and action. Therefore if you are going to shift in an old house, expect to have some plumbing issues. Some common plumbing problems in old houses are listed below.

1. Bad Repairs

The older the house you have bought, the greater will be the plumbing problems. Over the years, there have been many plumbers in this old house. Some would be good but some would be unprofessional as well. Therefore, the most common problem you will face is bad repairs that have been done in the house over years. It is therefore recommended that you should get your house checked by a professional plumber to know about all the bad repair areas.

2. Old Fixtures

The next most common problem in an old house is old fixtures. The door handles, window knobs etc. it is true that older materials are stronger and more reliable but they also wear away with time and will eventually create issues for you. For example old washers and valves can cause leakages and bad smells all around the house. Therefore, if you are buying an old house you should consider replacing the old fixtures before they create any problem for you.

3. Sewer Lines

Splintered or broken sewer lines are a common problem to expect in an old house but this is not a minor problem. This can be the root cause of all the plumbing issues happening in your newly bought old house.

4. Old Pipes

The houses built before the year 1990 have pipes made from older materials that are no longer used today for construction or any other purposes. It is therefore suggested that you should check the pipes before buying the house because the older pipes will be a source of great hassle and disturbance for you as you will not find any way to repair those pipes and you will have to ultimately replace all the pipes.

5. Galvanized Piping

The houses built earlier than 1960’s have pipes that are made of galvanized material. This material causes problems like low water pressure, discolored water and bad quality water. Galvanized pipes are made of iron. They are coated with zinc covering. This material can easily wear out over longer periods of time.

6. Drainage Problems

If the house you are planning to buy is more than 30 years old then take a moment and think about all the dirty water, scum and soap etc that is stuck inside the house drains. The drains all over the house like kitchen, bathroom and toilet etc are all susceptible to serious clogging issues after so many years of usage. A backed-up toilet, water collection sinks, foul smells coming from anywhere around the drains are all symptoms of clogged drains. This is the time that you should call a drainage expert for drain cleaning in Norwich and get all the drain pipes checked.

7. Polybutylene Piping

Polybutylene piping was used in homes that were constructed from the 70's to 90’s. This material reacts when it comes into contact with oxidants in water and slowly breaks down over time. This can result in complete system failure with the passage of time. Therefore, if you are buying a house that was built during this time period, it would be a good decision to get the house pipes checked by a plumber if those polybutylene pipes are still installed or not.

Better Safe than Sorry

The common plumbing problems in old houses are described above to help you understand and identify these problems before buying an old house to save yourself from troubles.