3 Common Plumbing Problems Found In Older Homes
If you recently purchased an older home and are experiencing some problems with the plumbing, you should know that this is quite common, especially for homes built before the 1960s. While you do not need to fix every single plumbing problem right away, you may want to begin planning on making upgrades little by little. Here are three common pluming problems you might be experiencing in your old home and ideas of how you can fix them.
Lack Of Shut-Off Valves
In new houses, plumbers place shut-off valves on every faucet and toilet, and every other water supply in the house. Unfortunately, older homes did not have this luxury. Because of this, each time a plumbing problem occurs with a sink or toilet, the main water supply in the house must be shut off.
Adding shut-off valves to each of your faucets is something you should consider doing. While you do not have to do this all at once, you could consider adding one each time you make an upgrade or repair to a faucet.
A shut-off valve can be placed underneath a sink or next to a toilet, and it is a useful device to have. If you have one on each plumbing fixture, you can simply turn the valve to shut the water off to only that fixture. This makes completing plumbing repairs a lot easier and more convenient.
Leaky Or Clogged Pipes
Prior to the 1970s, plumbers primarily used galvanized steel pipes in plumbing systems. While these pipes worked well back then, they do not hold up forever. Over time, they tend to rust and close up. This can result in developing leaks in your pipes or clogs in the lines. As the pipes close up, they can also begin to restrict water pressure in your home. This is not the only cause of low water pressure, but it can add to the problem.
The best remedy for fixing old pipes is to replace them; however, this can be a huge task to accomplish all at once. Many plumbers recommend replacing the pipes as needed or during renovations. If you are planning on remodeling a bathroom in your home, you should plan on replacing all the pipes the plumber can access during the project.
Little by little, you can replace all the old pipes in your house with copper or plastic pipes. Both of these options will hold up for a very long time, and replacing the pipes may reduce the number of leaks and clogs you experience in your home.
Low Water Pressure
In an older home, low water pressure is also very common, and this problem can be caused by a number of things, including:
- Rusty, clogged pipes
- Well problems
- Old or undersized water pump
- Water leaks
If you want to improve the water pressure in your home, the best remedy is to hire a plumber to pinpoint exactly what the cause is. A plumber will often begin by inspecting the well, water pump, and main water valve. If there are any problems with these issues, the plumber may recommend fixing them first.
In addition to this, you may have another common water problem that affects water pressure. In older homes, plumbing systems were often set up in a way that all the water is supplied from the same trunks. Because of this, you may notice differences in water temperature and pressure levels when you are taking a shower and someone flushes a toilet.
This is a problem that can often be fixed by adding a pressure booster to your water system, or you could fix it by adding a smart mixer to your shower. This particular device will help control the temperature and pressure level when multiple plumbing fixtures are used at once.
It may take some time, work, and money, but you can solve all these plumbing issues in your older home. To learn more about these topics, contact a plumber in your area. You can also learn more here about plumbing services in your area.