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La Miko via www.pexels.com
Older houses certainly have their charm. Not only do they have a certain vibe to them that you just don’t really get in new builds, but they’re also often (but not always) built to a far higher standard.
That being said, buying an older house won’t be all plane sailing. There will be a range of potential issues to watch out for, one of which is the state of the plumbing system – here’s a brief overview of some problems to watch out for.
Issues with water pipes
Most pipes in newer houses will last for up to around 100 years. Whether you’ve got copper or plastic, it shouldn’t start to break down until long, long after the system has been installed.
With older buildings, however, depending on the material of the pipe you may run into certain issues. When the coating on galvanised pipes wears off, for example, the steel underneath can rust and start to cause blockages.
It’s worth getting your pipes looked at by a plumber from somewhere like AbleMK, so that you can know what potential issues to watch out for.
Issues with sewage lines
In most cases, sewage systems will keep on working just as intended year after year. However, in certain cases you might experience issues that can have disastrous effects on how the system functions.
In certain older buildings, especially those built on land that has settled or shifted somewhat, you might experience something known as pipe belly. This is where certain parts of the sewage line will have sagged down, resulting in a low point.
If this dip is pronounced enough, it can result in slower-than-normal drainage, or in some cases even in sewage backups and blockages. Dealing with these issues can require a lot of work, and there’s often no easy way around them.
Issues with the heating system
Another common and more easily fixable issue with plumbing in older houses lies in the heating system. Boilers have a much shorter lifespan than either freshwater pipes or sewage lines, typically lasting around 15 to 20 years before they need replacing.
If you move into a house that’s older than that, there’s a chance that you’ll need to replace the boiler. Even if the existing, old boiler is still technically functioning, newer boilers are far more efficient and tend to break down much less frequently.
As a result, you’ll likely end up spending less on your heating bills and on repair costs compared to if you eeked another 3 or 4 years out of the older boiler. It will be a little more expensive upfront, but it should save you money in the long term.
If you’re considering buying an older home, then it’s definitely worth having the plumbing system looked at before you commit to the purchase. There likely won’t be anything that can’t be fixed, but it’s important that you’re aware of any issues early on, so that you can factor them into the end price.