Old Victorian homes are often beloved and sought after for their beautiful wood work, their creaking hardwood floors, and their old-world charm. However, buyer beware, these homes can also be chock full of old-world problems that have yet to be resolved and modernized. So, when touring that lovely vintage home, here’s what to keep in mind.
Pipes
The most well-known, and perhaps the most costly, old home problem is the plumbing. Pipes in old homes from the turn of the 19th century were commonly made of lead, which is something that we now know is an incredibly toxic material. The pipes caused extreme fatigue, irritability, pain, memory issues, and brain function issues, which led to the restriction of their use in the 1920s, and their eventual ban.
They could also be made of polybutylene, which were more commonly used in the 70s and 80s, marketed as the “pipe of the future”. The future, for them, was a class-action lawsuit that led to their demise. These pipes cracked and flaked easily, and led to failure quickly after installation. For any remaining pipes that were built pre-1960s, they could be galvanized, which is an iron pipe coated in zinc. Whether lead, polybutylene, or galvanized, they would all need to be replaced.
Old/Outdated Fixtures
Old homes come with a ton of beauty and charm, but they also come with hand-me-down- plumbing fixtures, faucets, tubs, showers, etc. These things can be, at least, an aesthetic issue, but at most be failing fixtures that need repair and are one use away from breaking.
Sewer Lines
Sewer lines are often the last thing people think about when looking at a home, but they can be a very problematic issue to resolve. Sewer lines in old homes are likely built to accommodate old-world plumbing fixtures, which in short means that they’re much more likely to fail when paired with modern fixtures and appliances. If the property hasn’t been the most well-maintained, there’s also a risk of the sewer lines having been invaded with tree roots.
Bad Repairs
The older the home, the more of a chance it has to have accumulated issues, that’s just a fact. But something that happened a lot in these old homes, is that when issues arose, the man of the house just got to work fixing it, whether he knew how to or not. This led to a lot of half-fixed issues, or issues that never were resolved, or issues that were resolved…just not correctly. For someone new coming into the house, this may be an issue. For this, it’s best to just call an expert to come look things over everywhere.
Old Homes
Old houses come with issues. But, hey, no house is perfect right off the bat, and giving an old house some TLC may transform it into your home. While touring old houses though, keep its possible plumbing problems in the back of your mind.
At Faulstick Plumbing, we specialize in installs, repairs, and inspections for all of your well, water, and plumbing needs. Our family-owned and operated business has built a reputation as the best-doing things the right way with the customer in mind, every time. Give us a call at 570-992-0447 to discuss your needs today!
