Re-plumbing tips for an old house

One of the most common problems with old houses is faulty plumbing. However, although there will be some cost involved in remedying this, re-plumbing an old house is a task that can be done at the same time as other renovations, thus cutting down on cost as well as hassle. When assessing an old house for re-plumbing, there are several areas to consider.

Old houses and plumbing

There are several major areas of plumbing that you should assess to find out what it will take to re-plumb an old house. If you are considering purchasing an old house that has not had its plumbing modernised, have an assessment and quote done by a licensed plumber and take the cost into consideration when making your offer on the house.

• The water pipes will need to be checked for corrosion or other damage causing leaks or problems with water quality. The piping may need to be replaced with plastic or copper if the water is discoloured, runs slowly or bangs or sputters when taps are turned on. It may be better to replace the entire water plumbing system than to attempt to affect individual repairs
• Check the roof and guttering. Old guttering may be rusting, falling off or even rotting if debris has been left to accumulate in it
• The old house's sewerage system may need cleaning out or replacing, and if the house is on septic check that this is clear and functioning properly. Look for very lush grass to trace where it comes out!
• If the house is on gas, which many old houses are, this will need to be checked by a plumber for safety and any potential problems as well
• If you can, see the house on winter or after a decent rain to check the drainage
• Consider adding solar hot water. The current rebates available make this very cheap
• Consider water saving devices such as a rainwater tank, greywater or low usage showers when re-plumbing an old home.

Simpler jobs like replacing taps and fittings or putting up new guttering and guards can be done as DIY jobs, but al the major re-plumbing work, including replacing or repairing pipes, hot water systems, adding solar hot water or repairing sewerage must be undertaken by a professional plumber.

Re-plumbing old houses

An old house is very likely to need re-plumbing, unless this has already been modernised reasonably recently. This is not reason not to buy an older home, but it is very important to get an accurate assessment done, including a quote, by a licensed plumber so that you can take this cost into account when purchasing the home. Any house over thirty or so years old is likely to need some re-plumbing, which is worth planning for even in an existing home.