Plenty of homes from the 1900s and even some from the 1800s are still standing in the Louisville area. Though these living spaces certainly have their charm, they are quite troublesome when it comes to plumbing. If you own such an antiquated home and haven’t had the plumbing updated, trouble might be lurking.
Piping Material Matters
Pipes built and installed before the 1960s were made of galvanized steel. Though plenty of homes with galvanized steel pipes have already undergone extensive re-plumbing, some homes still have these pipes in place. Anyone who knows anything about plumbing will testify to the inferiority of this material. The issue with galvanized pipe is that it is laden with a coating of zinc for protective purposes. This zinc eventually erodes from the pipes, causing deterioration from within. Such deterioration induces an array of problem ranging from diminished water pressure to plugged toilets and faucets. Eventually, galvanized pipes will corrode to the point that they are loaded with sediment that prevents water from flowing to faucets, shower heads etc.
So, how do you know if your home has a faulty piping system?
A quick way to determine if your aged home has galvanized pipes is to turn on the hot water and gauge the pressure. If the pressure seems low, there is a good chance your home has galvanized pipes that have succumbed to corrosion over the years and eventually become plugged. Even if there is substantial pressure in the hot water lines, there could still be other issues looming on the horizon. Other telltale signs of galvanized pipes are discolored water, pipe leaks and seemingly never-ending faucet/toilet repairs.
Perhaps the faulty galvanized pipes have been replaced and the others still remain in the home. These galvanized pipes will have to be replaced sooner than later. It is best to replace the full piping system as soon as galvanized pipes begin to pose problems. It is even possible that the previous homeowner(s) replaced faulty galvanized pipes with even more galvanized piping! This merely extends the problem. The true cure is to replace all galvanized pipes with plastic or copper pipes.
Certain older homes have piping made from cast iron or concrete. Both of these materials are problematic. Cast iron pipes gradually deteriorate to the point that they physically fall apart, leaving remnants of what was once an intricate piping system. Though concrete pipes do not deteriorate, they move and shift beneath the home’s foundation.
Draining Issues within Older Homes
It is easy to lose sight of the fact that soil moves. Homes are constantly shifting and re-settling along the ground. Such movement impacts the pipes beneath these living spaces, especially pipes beneath older homes. Bellies take shape within piping as homes shift. These dips within pipelines are induced by the soil’s gradual movement. As bellies worsen, debris and sediment settles within them, spurring the formation of stoppages within drains.
The Sewer Line
Plumbing extends outside of the house and into the street. If the house is positioned on a sewer line, the homeowner is the rightful owner of the line all the way from the home to the street. Such a line can prove awfully problematic in aged homes. Such a sewer line can be root-bound or completely crushed. The integrity of the line should be checked by professionals. If the sewer line is made of an inferior material like tarpaper, it must be replaced without delay. Even sewer lines made of aged cast-iron pipes will corrode. Clay sewer lines are highly susceptible to far-reaching roots. Though plastic sewer lines are more of a modern material, they still have the potential to be crushed.
The good news is that there is a neighborhood plumber that can help you determine if you are susceptible to any or all of these issues. If you live in an older home in the Louisville area, or just want to be sure your pipes are in tip-top shape, contact St. Matthews Plumbing to set up an appointment.
We love the older homes of the Highlands. Don’t let our name fool you, we don’t just work in St. Matthews. We are working in the homes and businesses of the Highlands area regularly, as well as Anchorage, Indian Hills, Middletown, Oldham County, and Southern Indiana.