There’s so much to love about living an old home. There’s the sense of history, the character, and the homeliness that brand new models just don’t seem to have. However, there’s also a drawback to living in old places: often in the form of the plumbing.
Bad plumbing in old homes is a common problem and one that impacts the United States as a whole. Depending on the state of the plumbing in the house you reside in, you may need repairs or a new plumbing system installed altogether.
What kind of issues do old homes often face in terms of their plumbing? Read on, and we’ll walk you through a few of the more common examples.
1. Outdated Piping Materials
One of the most common issues old homes face is that their plumbing systems were likely created before modern standards of practice were implemented. That often means plumbing systems are made of materials that can easily lead to issues.
Case in point: many old homes have lead pipes as part of their plumbing systems. Lead was often used because it was durable. However, as time has gone by, many have discovered the health risks that running water through lead pipes can provoke.
Galvanized pipes were also common in plumbing systems in earlier decades but are no longer used. The reason why? These kinds of pipes can become so brittle over time that they can easily break.
If you have a leak in your old home’s plumbing system, it very well might be because galvanized pipes were used. You’ll likely need to contact a plumbing service to have your pipes repaired or replaced.
2. Old and Failing Fixtures
If you have an old home, that also means you have an old plumbing system. It only makes sense that wear and tear on this system over time would create issues. The fixtures often bear the brunt of these many years of use.
Older fixtures, on one hand, were often built with more durable materials than they were today. Still, that doesn’t mean they can hold up to decades of use, and many fixtures in old homes have eroded away with time.
Handles, as well as washers and valves, may break, rust, or fall off completely. This can cause leaks and other issues in your home.
3. Shifting Pipe Movement
Another type of plumbing issue that arises only in old homes is pipe shifting. Over many, many decades your house will actually move. The Earth isn’t completely still, of course, and there are changes underneath a home that impact it’s exact placement.
Pipes buried underneath a house will be moved around and shifted as the years go by. In some instances, pipes might be pushed downward in a way that can restrict proper water flow.
This can also cause waste to accumulate and clogs to occur.
Overcome Bad Plumbing in Old Houses
There are a lot of pleasures of living in an old house, but having bad plumbing certainly isn’t one of them. The above issues are some of the common plumbing problems that older homes face.
Have more homeowner questions? Keep scrolling our blog for more information.
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