Buying a new home is an exciting experience. Some homes are older than others, and the older ones often provide the most character and style. Often, though, you run into some issues with those older homes. Whether it’s the roof, the foundation, or the plumbing, there are a wide array of things that may need some attention. In this post, we’re going to look at some common plumbing issues in older homes. If you follow these quick tips and suggestions, you’ll know what to look out for and how to deal with it.
Old Fixtures
Vintage water fixtures are often a great aesthetic addition to newer homes. Although, they’re with modern technology. In an old home, those old fixtures are often inefficient and need repair or restoration. You might wonder how they’re inefficient. Well, for starters, they don’t have aerators. Aerators are a modern innovation that helps cut back on water use and increase water pressure.
Unhealthy Water Pipes
When you buy an older home, you’ll want to check out the water lines. What are they made of? Often, older homes had lead or polybutylene water lines. Lead is notorious for causing poisoning and reproductive harm, so you’d want to replace all of it as soon as possible. Polybutylene pipes leak and fail over time.
Tree Root Infiltration
If you just bought an old house, you’ll want to have the sewer lines inspected by a professional drain cleaning service. These old sewer lines that have been sitting for decades underground are bound to fail at some point. It could be something as simple as a tiny leak that causes tree root invasion. The roots of vegetation and trees are always searching for water. If a sewer line is leaking water, the roots will follow the source and grow rampant inside the line. When the roots grow inside the pipe, the sewer will get backed up and can lead to unhealthy, dangerous conditions.
Drooping Drain Lines
Proper slope is critical for drain and sewer lines under your home. Drain lines underneath the home may have low spots. Over time, straps or supports may have broken and caused lines to droop. This sagging can cause poor drainage and lead to a backup or clog.
Call The Professionals
So, now you know about some common plumbing issues in older homes. As long as you keep an eye out for these issues and deal with them promptly, everything will be fine. If you’re unsure if the plumbing in your new home is safe and operational, give us a call. At Drain Express, we are plumbing and drain cleaning experts. When you’re looking to buy an older home, we can come to take a look at the plumbing system and give you advice that should help you with your decision. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to buy the home of your dreams. If there’s an issue with the plumbing, we can solve it for you quickly!