Buying an old house is a great bargain, and can be a great adventure as well. Old homes are usually priced lower than newer ones, and they tend to have a charmingly designed architecture that modern homes lack. However, along with old homes comes new problems. Over the years certain parts of the home degrade and need tender, loving care to bring them back up to speed.
Although a house may seem totally sound on the outside, it often hides a variety of problems. People who buy old homes at auction usually expect that their purchase will become an extensive restoration project, but they may not realize the extent of the project.
One of the most pervasive problems facing buyers of old homes is issues involving plumbing. Bringing the plumbing in an old house can be challenging. Buyers who want to one day move their family into a home need to deal with several plumbing issues which could negatively effect their family's health if left unresolved. Fortunately, plumbing companies are well versed in dealing with all of the issues facing old homes and can provide a variety of services to bring plumbing up to code.
One of the most serious issues in old homes is the use of lead piping. Although the health hazards of lead are well understood today, they were poorly understood by builders in times past. Lead pipes were very common in the construction of older homes and as the pipes decay, they may leach unhealthy levels of lead into tap water. In order for a home's plumbing to be up to code, it may not contain lead piping. Plumbing companies can remove old pipes and replace them with modern piping while preserving the authentic old-time feel of a house.
A secondary problem facing older homes is issues with proper drainage. The pipes serving a home may have become broken and clogged with time, leading to a system which does not drain properly or frequently backs up. Plumbing companies can provide drain cleaning and sewer cleaning services to resolve such issues.
Older homes frequently suffer from basement flooding. The technology to prevent flooding did not exist when older homes were designed, and their basements do tend to flood when the ground becomes over-saturated with water. In addition to their drain cleaning and sewer cleaning services, plumbing companies can install sump pumps to clear out water in areas that frequently flood. In doing so, they help prevent and resolve future flooding.
Though old homes have a comforting antique feel to them, the bathroom appliances often leave something to be desired. The shower and sink faucets may be old and clogged, and can lack the flow rates that modern users have come to expect. Older toilets may also not be up to snuff; they may fail to flush correctly, or simply use excessive amounts of water.
Luckily, plumbing companies often provide bathroom remodeling services. They can quickly fix an entire bathroom, replacing the tub, the sink, the toilet, faucets, and even the tiling. In virtually no time, you can have a functioning bathroom in that old home.