Hidden Issues with Leaking Pipes and Old Plumbing
In life, nothing lasts forever. That includes the piping inside your house. Over time, piping will gradually corrode, rust, and decay. If you don’t replace the plumbing, you could be setting yourself up for future leaks and even flood water or raw sewage entering your home. In these cases, the cost to re-plumb a house can be outrageous. Plumbing problems in older houses can be especially disastrous.
Old House Plumbing Problems
There are essentially three types of piping problems that typically tend to be found in older homes.
Obsolete materials
First, there’s the issue of pipe material that is no longer used and/or up to current building codes, making it extremely prone to failure. For example, polybutylene piping is not allowable for installation in most building codes- it’s not even manufactured anymore.
Known as “PB” in the industry, it was billed as the “pipe of the future” because of its low cost and easy installation. But throughout the 1980s, the poor manufacturing of this plumbing material caused many millions of dollars of water damage. Most manufacturers didn’t acknowledge that this type of pipe is defective, but eventually, they were forced to resolve homeowner claims after numerous class action lawsuits. Since 2007 however, PB manufacturers are no longer obligated to remove the defective piping, so if you have an old home with PB piping, you’ll need to take action to remove it as soon as possible.
Galvanized pipes
Another problem in older homes is galvanized pipe material. Used for water supply piping until the early 1970s, it’s become obsolete because of corrosion problems that limit its lifespan to 50 years at best. With galvanized piping, corrosion can accumulate inside the pipe, causing gradual narrowing of the diameter of the piping. In other words, galvanized piping rusts from the inside out. This restricts the flow of water, and the corrosion can ultimately cause pipes to leak.
Defective repairs
Inadequate repairs that have been made by an average homeowner or a general handyman are a source of concern. Plumbing issues require highly skilled labor. It’s always in your best interest to hire a licensed plumber.
Costs
Re-plumbing or replacing leaky pipes isn’t cheap. For an average house of 1- 2.5
bedrooms, costs can range from $1,500 to $15,000. Normally, re-piping costs are based on the total number of fixtures including each sink, bathtub, toilet, dishwasher, shower and more. Prices depend on the size of the house, the types of holes made in the walls, as well as the ease of access.
Damage from leaky or old pipes can expand beyond just the piping itself. If you’ve discovered leaking pipes, they must be replaced immediately. Costs for damage can be a hard hit. If you are worried that you may be in over your head, you can sell your house to We Buy Ugly Houses. Regardless of the home’s plumbing, we’ll give you a cash buyout for your house as-is, with no hidden fees or commissions.
