Top Five Plumbing Considerations for Historic Homes

Common Plumbing Problems, Historic Homes, How-To,

Historic Metro Detroit Homes may Come With Age-Old Plumbing Issues

Renovating an older home can be extremely rewarding, but it does come with its challenges.

Luckily, with Detroit’s rich history preserved in residential and commercial real estate around the city, we’ve had the pleasure of helping numerous clients bring old buildings back to life.

WaterWork professional plumbers have had extensive experience working in the beautiful historic neighborhoods of Boston-Edison, Corktown, Palmer Woods, Bush Park, Indian Village and more.

If you are buying a fixer upper, we’d be happy to complete an initial, comprehensive plumbing inspection for you, and feel free to keep us on speed dial throughout your renovations should any of the following plumbing issues pop up.

Common Plumbing Problems in Older Homes

Your plumbing may not be up to code.

As many antique home buyers know, what seems like a simple fix or upgrade often turns out to be much more involved. We’ve seen this happen a lot in older homes when an installation is needed.

A water heater or plumbing upgrade could uncover that your system is not up to code in one or more areas.

It is a good idea after your initial inspection to have electrical and plumbing specialists come out and take a look at specific systems in your home to pinpoint problem areas.

It may be hard to reach/view your pipes.

Older homes are fortresses, built with materials like plaster and thick wood. Aesthetically and functionally, this is extremely appealing and beneficial.

However, these sturdy materials can make it harder for plumbers to access pipes when they need to service them. How difficult your system is to access depends on well it is configured within your home.

It is important to understand that there may be times when your servicemen have to knock into a wall or floor to reach leaks and other plumbing mishaps. Of course, our plumbers avoid this as much as possible.

Your plumbing system setup may be strange.

We often run into strangely-configured plumbing systems in older homes. This is usually because they have been repurposed and altered over the years. It is not uncommon to find old, botched repairs and installations as well.

This can make it difficult for your plumber to find the initial cause of current problems like leaks and low water pressure. It can be done, but it may take longer than with a straightforward job.

The more a system has been rigged throughout the years, the more likely it is to find other unexpected problems along the way.

There may be leaks you don’t notice upon inspection.

Older pipes can be prone to leaks that don’t necessarily stand out upon first inspection, especially if you are shopping in the dryer summer and fall months.

It is very important to look closely for signs of leaking during your inspection. However, it is a good idea to go a step further and hire a plumber to complete comprehensive leak detection throughout your home.

Even one unchecked leak can cost you thousands of unexpected dollars. We know every penny counts when it comes to restoring an old home so we want to get in to catch leaks and stop them immediately.

Your home could be prone to water pressure issues.

The galvanized steel pipes common in older homes are prone to rust. If the corrosion is bad enough, pipes can close up and cause water pressure issues throughout your home.

If you see low water pressure throughout your house or at specific faucets and can’t figure out, or don’t know how to figure out, why, contact a WaterWork plumber immediately.

In the meantime, check in and around your home for the following signs of leakage and report them to your plumber:

Discoloration
Uneven ground
Standing water

WaterWork Plumbers Handle Repairs, Maintenance and Installations in Historic Homes

We know the added layer of frustration that comes with repairs in an old home.

Not only do old mishaps have to be corrected, but your plumber must also know how to work with plumbing materials that are no longer in use. If he or she doesn’t catch and fix your historic home’s fragile problems initially, you could be looking at costly damage in the future.

WaterWork professional and emergency plumbers have worked with numerous antique plumbing systems, performing repairs, maintenance and installations for our customers.

We know problems can spring up unexpectedly and that it’s critical to respond immediately to emergencies. That’s why we’re on call 24/7.

WaterWork Plumbing may be a small company, but we offer the same top-of-the-line service that the big guys do – without the big price. Our number one priority is ensuring that you are satisfied.