Older homes come with charm and character. They connect you with the past and often have interesting nooks and features like glass doorknobs, dumbwaiters, and stained glass. Older homes also come with facets, fixtures, and pipes to match the times. That’s why, it’s always a good idea to have a home plumbing inspection. It will indicate any potential unforeseen problems.

So, what about that plumbing?

Inside and outside plumbing, including the fixtures, could be problematic, especially if they’re the original installations from back in the day. You might find, for example:

• Galvanized steel pipes
• Original toilets, which use too much water
• Steel (ceramic coated) tubs and hand basins

These are the things you can see. Potential problems extend to original drains, pipes and sewers that are not visible! For example:

• Lead pipes – the original plumbing pipe and the trades namesake! (See your table of elements). Unfortunately, lead is toxic and can lead to a host of health problems.
• Galvanized pipes, made of iron and coated with a layer of zinc. Over time, these pipes corrode, creating rusty water and clog up.

What about your sewer lines? An older home generally means more mature trees in the yard leading to sewer lines being damaged by tree roots. Especially if you have original clay pipes.

A plumbing inspection will identify problems before they happen. Not only can a plumber replace your worn fixtures, but they’re also equipped to keep the water flowing smoothly by removing debris and replacing old and corroded pipes before they create a problem.

Preventative maintenance goes a long way!