4 Reasons To Inspect The Plumbing System Of An Older Home

Older homes are prone to a variety of concerns, including ungrounding outlets, outdated cooling and heating systems, and plumbing problems. These are the few problems which are quite common.

In older homes, a lot of the plumbing issues are hidden. It’s quite possible that water leaks go unnoticed until your water bill soars or you start smelling musty odors or noticing apparent wall stains as a result of property damage.

You should think about getting a plumbing inspection if you’re thinking about buying an older house or if its been quite some time since your home has had plumbing inspection. 

What to anticipate during the plumbing inspection:

Inspections performed by experts in plumbing to cover all the bases. You may anticipate a thorough inspection for older home plumbing problems, including examining the pipes under the house, testing the water heater, and looking for leaks in hydrants.

 A qualified plumbing inspector will look at any place in your home where water flows. The fact that plumbing checks are intended to be preventative is the most crucial thing to keep in mind.

In older homes, water damage is the most likely to occur. Inspections of plumbing systems are a great way to prevent severe, expensive problems that are frequently present in older plumbing infrastructure. In older homes, the following plumbing issues are the most common:

• Pipe belly formation – When homes settle, pipes may become bent and buckled, which affects how well water is directed from the sewage line through the pipework.
• Clogging: Soap, sewage and gunk can accumulate after many years of usage, which can seriously clog drains.
• Tree root incursion: Over time, trees may break through sewer pipes, resulting in sewage backup.
• Corrosion of metal: Over time, the protective zinc coating on pipes may deteriorate, exposing the iron within, which may rust. As a result, using the water gets hazardous.
• Poor repairs – Some DIY plumbing projects from years ago might not have been the greatest option, thus poor work done before can result in significant issues now.

The easiest method to avoid plumbing issues in older homes is to have a thorough inspection.

4 Reasons Why You Should Inspect Old House Plumbing

There are a number of reasons why you should have the plumbing in your old home tested, aside from taking preventative measures to avoid the aforementioned common issues.

When purchasing an old house:

It’s difficult to resist the appeal of an older house. However, you want to take the appropriate precautions to avoid getting sucked into a money hole before making one of your biggest purchases of your life.

This is not only a wise investment for you personally, but your home insurance may also allow it. The qualification procedure for a regular insurance may include a thorough home inspection if your home is more than 25 years old and hasn’t recently undergone an inspection.

The house appraisal is also a significant phase in the home purchasing process. Before funding the loan, a mortgage lender often wants a house evaluation.

A thorough report detailing the home’s location, state, and worth in relation to others in the neighborhood is produced as part of the appraisal process. It is advisable to schedule your personal inspection while your lender arranges for the evaluation.

Simply said, a thorough inspection provides you peace of mind and confidence when buying an older home since it gives you a greater idea of the state of the other systems and the condition of the old plumbing lines.

 Water Flow:

You can see a drop in water pressure over time. Numerous things, including the accumulation of minerals and other deposits, might contribute to this.

In reality, a chemical interaction between the minerals and the pipe materials may result in the growth of germs, which might be hazardous to the health.

When you discover a reduced water flow, you should quickly have a plumbing inspection. Your property will sustain less harm the quicker you take appropriate measures. 

Plumbing System and Toxic Materials:

Unfortunately, many of the materials used to construct plumbing systems in homes constructed before the 1990s pose health dangers.

Your old home can have three of the worst kinds of pipes, including

• Polybutylene: Over time, this material develops brittleness and a propensity for leaks as a result of interactions with disinfectants from public water treatment facilities, which can cause significant water damage to homes.
• Galvanized steel: As the zinc coating erodes, the internal walls of the piping rust, corrode, and develop calcium deposits. This buildup slows water flow and may eventually cause the pipes to break or collapse.
• Lead: When swallowed, this metal can have negative health consequences on children, including issues with their learning, development, hearing, and behaviour.

Sewer Line Damages:

Older homes’ sewage lines are susceptible to wear and tear, which can significantly reduce the pipe’s lifespan. Older properties typically have the following types of sewage lines installed:

Pipes for Sewer Transit:

These pipes are prone to failures and leaks at the joints since they were mostly placed in the 1950s and 1970s. These pipes have a 70-year lifetime on average.

Pottery Sewer Pipes:

Clay pipes might be seen in houses built before the 1950s. These usually endure between 50 and 60 years. They are quite uncommon, though.

A cast-iron sewer pipe:

These were often installed between the 1950s and the 1970s in residential neighbourhoods. Their life expectancy is between 70 and 100 years.

Orangeburg Sewer Pipes:

Orangeburg sewer lines were used from 1860 to 1972, which is a very long time. Unfortunately, they only have a brief lifespan; after 30 years, they begin to degrade, and by 50 years, they are probably gone.

Lead Pipe:

These are extremely harmful, as mentioned above. Despite having a 100-year lifetime, lead pipes put residents at a significant risk of having lead leach into their water supply.

PVC:

Since the 1940s, they have been in use and have a 100-year lifespan. Fortunately, if your 1940s-era home still has them in its system, total failure won’t be a problem until 2040. However, it’s wise to perform inspections to make sure your pipes are properly maintained.

You should have an inspection whether you live in an old house or are thinking about buying one, regardless of your circumstances. Not only can your inspection help you save money. It may protect you and your loved ones from potential health issues and bring you comfort in knowing that you are secure in your own house.