Living in an older home can be a great way to enjoy an affordable residence with class and charm. However, with an older home comes older construction and materials. If you live in an older home, there are some key plumbing issues that you'll want to be on the lookout for.

Corroded Piping

One of the most common things that you'll run into with your older home's plumbing system is corroded pipes. Many piping materials were commonly used throughout the recent century that are prone to rusting out. These include materials like cast iron and galvanized steel. Keep an eye out for any potential corrosion on your piping so that it can be addressed before you end up with a major water leak in your home.

Lead Piping

Homes built before 1978 commonly feature lead water piping. This isn't a big deal when lead is used for drain piping. However, lead pipes can create a real problem when used for water supply lines. Lead has been shown to produce a wide variety of health problems in people, especially in young children. A professional plumbing inspection can determine if any of your water supply piping is made of lead. If you discover you have lead pipes, replace the line as soon as possible to prevent further health issues from developing.

Pipe Bellies

Another common issue you may run into with your older home is a pipe belly. This occurs when a section of your main sewer line creates a negative slope due to the pressure of your home settling into the ground above. Think of a pipe belly as a deep drop in your line that can allow the components of your wastewater to get stuck. Without enough force to get them back up the other side of the drop and out the rest of your sewer line, you can experience trouble with your sewer system.

Common indicators of a pipe belly in your sewer line include frequent clogs and slow-draining fixtures. If you suspect you have a pipe belly, contact a plumber for a camera inspection. They can verify its existence and formulate a plan for repairing it. In many cases, that section of the sewer line will need to undergo replacement. If your entire sewer line is aging, they may recommend a complete replacement.

Failing Sewer Line

Your home's sewer line lies buried underneath your home. This makes it a bit more challenging to know when there's an issue until it creates a massive amount of damage. When your sewer line develops cracks over time, it can allow just enough space for tree roots to grow inside the line. Over time, these tree roots can obstruct the flow of wastewater out of your home and further expand the cracking to create more damage. You may notice a foul odor when outside your home or pooling water above your outdoor sewer line. Enlisting the help of a plumber to get a camera inspection can identify the state of your sewer line.

Malfunctioning Fixtures

If you think about all the plumbing fixtures throughout your home, it may be overwhelming just how many there are. Over time, the internal components of these plumbing fixtures will wear out with use. You might notice leaking coming from your faucets and even your shower heads and valves. When you first notice a water leak, contact our plumbing professionals to evaluate it. You never want to put off getting service as it can lead to more extensive water damage to your home.

Low Water Pressure

One of the more frustrating issues that you may run into with your older home is low water pressure. If this comes on over time, it's likely due to an aging plumber system. The root cause of the issue could be one or more things. If the issue seems to be happening at just one plumbing fixture, then its aerator may simply need to be cleaned. If the problem is happening at every filter, your water supply line could be corroded on the inside, restricting the flow of water through it. In the latter situation, you'll need to have the water supply line replaced to restore your normal water pressure.

Leaky Plumbing Joints

Over time, the natural shifting of your home can cause plumbing joints to slightly loosen up. These can be joints for water supply lines or drain lines. In both cases, water will be leaking from the joint. In some cases, you may be able to see the water leaking or signs of damage, like water stains. However, in other cases, the first sign of a leak that you may notice is an increase in your water bill. In either case, call us right away for our leak detection service to identify the source of the leak and repair it before more water damage happens to your home.

Lead Solder

Lead was not just used solely as a piping material in older homes. Before it was banned in 1978, lead was actually a fairly popular solder material for other piping materials. In particular, it was used to join copper piping together. You can tell the distinctive silver-like color as opposed to the copper color of the piping. If you have lead soldering on your water supply line piping, it can contaminate your fresh drinking water and should be removed.

Piping in Exterior Walls

The plumbing standards of today that provide optimal safety and efficiency simply weren't around many decades ago. Some older homes often have issues like piping in exterior walls that you simply won't see due to current code standards today. If you have piping in your exterior wall, consider having it rerouted to an interior wall to prevent it from freezing.

The Importance of a Professional Plumbing Inspection

If you live in an older home, invest in a professional plumbing inspection to optimize your plumbing. One of our knowledgeable plumbers will come to your home and assess all your plumbing system components, including your water supply lines, drain lines, sewer lines, and fixtures. They will be on the lookout for all these problems that we went over above and more.

Our plumbers will provide you with a detailed report of the issues that your home faces and what their priority levels are. This can give you an easy-to-read game plan on what problems you face and how to fix them. If you're thinking about purchasing an older home, be sure to get a professional plumbing inspection so that you are aware of any issues ahead of time.

Benjamin Franklin® offers expert plumbing service for the North Metro, MN community. Simply call our office today to schedule your next service consultation with one of our helpful plumbers.