Older houses are in demand for many reasons, such as appearance, superiority of construction materials, and affordability, making them unique and a vintage of charm. However, living in an older house exposes you to many challenges, including plumbing. This guide delves into the most common plumbing issues in older homes.
1. Faulty Sewer and Drain Lines
Tree intrusion is the most common factor with older sewer lines. Because they’re always wet, they tend to attract trees, which can crack or clog the sewer line, the root cause of your plumbing issues. It’s arduous for a homeowner to determine when a sewer is damaged before it completely collapses because this equipment is buried underground.
The only way to identify a plumbing problem is when there’s sewer backup flow or foul-smelling wastewater.
Neglected sewer lines cause leaks, which require elaborate repairs if they are damaged. For this reason, old houses need regular sewer and drain line maintenance from a qualified plumber.
2. Outdated Piping Materials
If your house was built pre-1990s, there’s no doubt that its plumbing system material is outdated. Its particles are washed into the water, causing water discoloration and low water pressure over time.
If your future home has old piping systems, consider pipe replacement, including the costs while calculating the overall budget. Hiring our professional plumbers to change the pipes or install a water filtration system will ensure the water is safe.
Here are the reasons the standard U.S. building codes no longer approve the use of these pipes.
Galvanized Steel Pipes
This building material was popularly used to construct most American houses in the 1930s through 1980s. Galvanized pipes are made of iron and coated with zinc, which erodes over time, leading to corrosion and breakages.
As the pipes deteriorate, the rust compromises the water quality and pressure, posing health side effects. Therefore, replacing the pipes is necessary before they cause severe issues.
Lead Pipes
Before lead was banned, it was used for sewer and main water lines. Unfortunately, lead was found to be highly toxic. If it seeps into your home’s water, it can cause health issues such as memory loss, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, irritability, and harm to infants and children. Ensure you contact our plumbers to check and refit your old house with modern pipes.
Polybutylene Pipes
For many people, polybutylene looked like the pipe of the future, but unfortunately, it didn’t seem to tolerate oxidants and chemicals intended to improve drinking water. Commonly used in housing from the 1980s to 1990s, these pipes started to experience flaking, brittleness, cracking, and premature expiration.
Polybutylene is no longer manufactured nor rated by U.S. building codes. If you live in an old house with existing polybutylene pipes or consistent plumbing issues or leaks, re-piping before they fail is the permanent solution.
3. Bellied Pipes
Even homes with the most robust foundations will shift and move over time. As a result, the pipes sag downwards, creating a “belly,” or a negative slope, that is a common issue in old homes. As the house settles, the pipes interfere with proper water flow, leading to brokerages and leaks.
Another consequence of sewer line bellies is that they create pools that eventually accumulate waste, which can cause clogs and stoppages if left for too long. Sewer lines and drains might also allow toxic wastewater to seep into your home or yard.
Moreover, sewer line bellies cause slab leaks, allowing wastewater to reach your home’s foundation and affecting its structural integrity. Thus, contacting our licensed plumbing company is advisable to fix bellied pipes.
Common signs of sewer line bellies include:
- Frequent backups
- Patches of green vegetation in isolated areas of your yard
- Slow drains
- Nasty smells from the plumbing system
4. Improper Installation
If your plumbing system is improperly done, you will face constant plumbing problems. One of the most challenging aspects of old houses is identifying who installed the plumbing system or their techniques becomes challenging.
So, if an amateur plumber did a poor installation, expect to encounter several plumbing issues. Besides, they might have failed to address the exact issues that needed repair, worsening the situation.
Therefore, before you move into a home built in the 1970s, consider hiring our plumbing contractor to inspect any concerns. They have the expertise to handle any complexities in houses built under different circumstances and can use the latest techniques to repair your plumbing system.
5. Old Fixtures
While the older fixtures are made of more solid and generally better materials than their modern counterparts, they don’t last forever. Sadly, corrosion and wear on the hardware and connections lead to leakages and nasty smells.
Most homeowners opt to fix these inconveniences, which may lead to severe plumbing issues that cause permanent water damage and require costly repairs. Some of the outdated fixture signs include:
- Restricted water flow
- Broken knobs on sinks, tubs, or showers
- Leaks of any kind
- Uneven temperature controls
6. Running Toilets
Running toilets top the list of plumbing issues in old houses. Although they’re not as bad as clogged toilets, they increase utility bills because they keep running even when not in use, leading to water wastage.
7. Clogged and Slow Drains
Clogged drains and pipes are the biggest plumbing problems in all households, especially older sets. If you fail to maintain your plumbing system regularly, you will likely have issues like drain blockages and toilet issues.
The most evident sign of slow drainage is water backup in your sink or bathroom, which means your pipes are clogged. Soap buildup and hair, among other particles, clog your drains and toilet. Further, flushing down items that can’t dissolve causes future blockage problems.
Another issue is the sewer lines. After over a decade of use, you must contact our plumbing company if you notice strange smells or water backups in your sinks or toilets.
8. Faulty Water Heater
Getting drenched with cold water instead of what is supposed to warm up is a common occurrence that may alarm you that something is wrong with the water heater. There are reasons for this, such as leaks, lack of hot water, and a buildup of minerals, which make the solids increase faster while using the water heater.
Besides that, telltale signs that give you an indication that your water heater unit has a problem and requires your attention include water pooling on the floor near the water heater or under the heater, weird noises like dripping, popping, rumbling, or colored water in your water heater system.
9. Leaking Pipes and Faucets
Most leaking problems are due to poor installation or long-term tap use. Dripping can be irritative, especially at night, but it also wastes water, escalating the bill. During winter, water freezes inside the pipes, increasing their possibility of bursting.
Leakages occur due to shifting, deterioration, high pressure, or other damage and should be handled immediately to prevent severe outcomes.
Contact Our Plumbing Experts Today
If you have just moved into an old house and are worried about the plumbing challenges you will encounter, we’ve got you! We are certified professional plumbing service providers and NATE-certified experts in Camp Verde, AZ. We repair and replace water heaters, re-pipe, drain clogs, provide hydro jetting services, install water softeners, and repair toilets, sewers, and faucets.
We also provide HVAC installation, maintenance, and repair, among other services. Schedule your appointment with us today at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical, and your concerns will be professionally and promptly addressed.
