Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

Here is a new blog post from a guest author contributing to
Lang’s Kitchen & Bath’s website.  We hope you find this topic helpful!

Old homes have a certain charm that newer ones seem to lack, but moving into a place that has been around for decades can present a unique share of challenges. While you can always remodel an old home to give it a face lift, the fact is that the skeleton of the house is already very old. This can lead to a variety of problems and unanticipated costs, especially if the plumbing has received very little attention over the years.

Defective plumbing is a common source of rotting and decay. The tricky thing is that it tends to hide, unnoticed, within the walls of a building for years and usually only gets uncovered during remodeling or renovation work.

The ramifications of a defective plumbing system can be wide ranging, and it’ll take much more than religious drain cleaning to make many of these issues go away. Clogged, loose-fitting, and broken pipes will need immediate professional repair. You’ll also want to consider replacing functional but outdated piping, if your budget allows.

Should You Update Old Plumbing Systems When Remodeling Your Home?

If you’re thinking about or in the process of a home remodeling project, it would be great if you could also consider updating your old plumbing as well. Effective plumbing plays a critical role in preventing kitchen and bathroom remodeling disasters.

Given all the innovations that took place in the plumbing industry over the last decade alone, a plumbing system upgrade will better serve the needs of your household.

To keep the renovation costs down, you must first assess the health of your pipes. There are cases where updating your entire plumbing system isn’t necessary. You may choose to only replace the parts that need replacing.

On the other hand, there are also instances where replacing the entire system is the more cost-effective choice down the line. The is usually the best route to take when you’re dealing with:

• Lead pipes

• Hard water

• Galvanized steel pipes that have corroded with age

• Pipes that have since exceeded their lifespan

• Crudely assembled systems that will just cause more problems in the long-term

How to Extend the Lifespan of Old Pipes

Let’s face it: not everybody can afford a plumbing system overhaul. And sometimes, it’s okay not to, especially when everything’s functioning fairly well and there’s no leaking involved.

If tearing up the walls and re-plumbing the whole house is not an option, you can extend the lifespan of those decades-old pipes and ensure that your plumbing system keeps on working properly for as long as possible by avoiding clogs.

You can check out some useful tips and tricks to avoid clogged drains on the infographic below:

Be Careful of What You Put Down the Drain

As they always say, prevention is better than cure. And you can definitely apply this adage to plumbing care and maintenance.

Clogging is a frequent problem in older homes and one of the main causes of plumbing system damage, so you must be more mindful of the things that go down your drain.

Use Safe Drain Cleaners

It’s important to unclog your pipes as soon as you notice some form of blockage. However, using chemical drain cleaners can be harsh on old pipes and the high acidity levels may even hasten their deterioration.

Most of the time, pouring boiling water or boiling-water-and-vinegar-mix down your drain once a week is enough to melt accumulated gunk in the pipes and fix minor clogging.

You can also try hydro-jetting, but you’ll need a professional plumber for this one.

Benefits of a New and Efficient Plumbing System

Most homeowners decide to remodel their homes to improve their living experience. And what better way to enhance the comfort and convenience of your home than ensuring that your plumbing system functions perfectly at all times?

People usually don’t pay too much mind to their plumbing system. But just like any other systems in your home, it deserves careful attention and professional repair and maintenance, even more so if it’s already several decades old.

Investing in a more efficient plumbing system will:

• Save you money on utility bills and repair costs

• Prevent future plumbing emergencies

• Increase the value of your home

However, to enjoy all the benefits mentioned above—and more—you must first ensure that your plumbing system is properly installed and compliant with local, state, and federal regulations.

That being said, it’s in your best interests to get a certified plumbing contractor to work on your plumbing during the home remodeling.

About the author

Rachel Watson is the Senior Content Editor of Precision Air & Plumbing, a full-service HVAC, plumbing and home performance contractor operating in Chandler, Arizona. Rachel enjoys yoga and writing articles about how to make home living more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.