When purchasing an older home, there are several possible issues you should look for, including potential problems with the plumbing. One example of a plumbing problem in an older home is clogged drains. For the sake of example, let’s take a hundred year old home and look at the bath/shower: just think about all the people who have bathed during this time period! Now add the possibility of pets being bathed or what have you. Soap scum, hair and mold growth can all build up and cause water to drain slowly or not at all. Therefore, it is good practice to use hair traps in your shower/tub drains and clean them regularly. Clogged drains can lead to water backup and potentially, water damage or even mold damage.
In addition, if considering the purchase of an older home, it is advisable to have the drains scoped. Scoping companies will utilize cameras to look into your drains and sewer pipes to see the condition of the drains. Scoping is a proactive way to check out the drains in any home, especially in an older home where problems are more likely. An initial investment to check the condition of drains and pipes can save you a large amount of time in cleanup, money and headaches down the road. One huge headache that can be avoided by scoping is potential sewer backup. Sewer backups are an unfortunate but common problem in U.S. cities and towns.
