An Old House Can Reveal Its Plumbing Shortcomings
The excitement of an old home can fade once the old house reveals its shortcomings. But, as they say, “beauty is only skin deep,” which can also apply to old houses. While some underlying problems can be relatively minor, others are a bomb waiting to explode. So, with all the excitement of an older home purchase, be mindful and have a plumbing inspection because some plumbing issues are quite common in old homes.
What Will I Get Out Of A Plumbing Inspection
A thorough examination of your plumbing system is a plumbing inspection. An expert plumber will examine specific components within your plumbing systems during an inspection. For example, they will inspect the plumbing inside and outside your home. This includes sewer lines, outdoor spigots, hoses in your washroom, pipes, bathroom and kitchen sinks, faucets and fixtures, toilets, and water heaters.
Why Should I Have My Plumbing Inspected?
You might believe that a thorough plumbing inspection was part of the home purchase. But a conventional home inspection often looks at three things:
- If the drains are clear, the toilets are flushing.
- The water heater is working.
- The faucets are functioning.
However, there are several other items on the plumbing inspection checklist to carry out a thorough plumbing inspection by a certified, licensed plumber.
Old Pipes Are The First Concern
The first concern that you should take into account is the fact that homes built before the 1990s could have pipes that are outdated and no longer approved by U.S. building codes. Therefore, a thorough plumbing inspection is recommended to safeguard against any surprises, especially if a renovation took place over the last decade or more.
Galvanized Pipes Are Still In Some Homes Today
Before the 1960s, homebuilders used galvanized pipes for plumbing new homes; the iron pipes were coated with zinc, but over time the zinc wore off, and the pipe began to erode, leaving them open to corrosion. In some cases, the pipe started to leak, and the water had a tint of brown. Additionally, some homes encountered water pressure issues because the pipes were constricting. While the galvanized pipes weren’t the easiest pipes for your plumber to work with, they were reliable. Some pipes lasted 60 years or longer and are still in homes today. However, they are over 60 years old and should get replaced or inspected. A plumbing inspection will determine if your pipes need replacing.
Polybutylene Pipes, When Discovered, Should Be Removed
In the 1970s, polybutylene was ushered as the pipe of the future. Manufacturers introduced the pipe as the replacement to the more expensive copper pipes. In the 1980s, the product became widely used in the plumbing industry because it cost less and was easier to install. But that was short-lived as the pipe maker had to pay millions of dollars in a class-action lawsuit declaring the pipes were defective, though the maker would never admit to it. Homes constructed using polybutylene should have them replaced because they are unsafe, and the U.S. building code no longer rates them.
Have The Sewer Line Video Inspected
When buying an old house, no one thinks much about the sewer line until we start smelling sewage or our drains start backing up. In severe cases, sewage can even seep back into your home. A well-established old house has well-established landscaping, which includes trees. Tree roots can invade a sewer line, and the nutrients in the water can cause them to multiply quickly. Hydro Jetting can clear the roots, but there is no stopping them from returning. If you’re making an old house purchase, consider having a plumbing inspection on the sewer line.
Your Water Heater Is Part Of your Plumbing Inspection
Your water heater is another area of great concern when purchasing an older home. Most heaters have a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. So the first thing your inspector will do is check the dates when the heater was manufactured. Furthermore, the latest water heater technologies are so advanced you may consider replacing them, especially if the heater is too old. A new heater might be part of the negotiations if it is over ten years old. Finally, your inspector will check for maintenance records if they never maintained it by flushing it once a year or had never changed the anode rod. There’s a chance that the water heater is on the way out.
Your Plumbing Inspector Will Give You The Answers You’re Looking For
When you need a plumbing inspector, trust the experts at Big B’s Plumbing. Our team of experts is ready to help put your mind to rest. We’ll provide you with a comprehensive plumbing inspection report of your home purchase. There are so many older homes for sale in Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, and the surrounding areas. When purchasing a home, you don’t want any regrets; call today, and you’ll always get the service you deserve.
