Tag: home's

Bathroom interior featuring pink tiled walls, a wooden cabinet, a white toilet, and a bathtub, illustrating plumbing conditions in older homes.

Common Plumbing Problems in Old Homes and How to Identify Them

Plumbing Issues to Watch Out for in Older Houses

Older houses can be more prone to experiencing plumbing problems due to their aging plumbing systems and materials. So, when living in an old home with old plumbing, homeowners should watch out for plumbing issues and call a plumber when signs of problems are noticed. This post will share some common plumbing issues in older homes and how they can be identified. 

Corroded Pipes

pipes Corroded pipes plague countless older homes and can create expensive headaches for unsuspecting homeowners when they leak, causing water damage. Many pipe materials, including galvanized steel, cast iron, and copper pipes, gradually deteriorate over decades, developing rust, mineral buildup, and structural weakness, which can lead to leaks and pipe bursts. 

So, recognizing the warning signs of pipe corrosion and calling a plumber to replace the pipes can help prevent issues like leaks and burst pipes and the additional consequences they can cause, like water damage and higher water bills, from occurring. Discolored water flowing from faucets and fixtures, reduced water pressure, leaks, and a strange metallic taste or smell to the water can signal corrosion. Rust and corrosion may also be visible on exposed pipes. 

Low Water Pressure

sinkLow water pressure can be frustrating, turning simple tasks like showering or washing dishes into tedious ordeals. Older homes with aging plumbing can experience poor water pressure due to various underlying causes, including outdated plumbing fixtures, clogs, corrosion, and water leaks. 

When homeowners notice reduced water pressure in the shower or from faucets, it’s important to call a plumber so they can determine the underlying cause of the low water pressure and the best solution. They will inspect the condition of the pipes to determine whether a water leak is due to corrosion or not, which will determine whether water leak repair or pipe replacement is needed to replace old and corroded pipes. If water pressure issues are from old fixtures, they can be replaced. The best solution to restore water pressure will depend on the cause.

Sewer Line Problems

Old sewer lines are more likely to experience problems, including clogs, leaks, corrosion, or damage. Some of these issues can also lead to other problems if not addressed promptly. For example, issues such as sewer line clogs and corrosion can lead to leaks and damage. Additionally, external factors can also lead to sewer line problems, including tree roots that infiltrate joints and cracks in the sewer line in search of moisture and nutrients, resulting in a clogged sewer line and further damage. Shifting soil can also cause sewer line leaks and damage.

Homeowners should watch for warning signs of sewer line problems and call a plumber to determine the issue and the best solution to fix it. Slow draining, foul sewage odors, backups, unexplained wet and soggy spots in the yard, and unusually fast-growing, lush patches in the yard can all signal issues with the sewer line. There are several solutions to sewer line problems depending on the issue it’s facing. Sewer line repair or replacement may be necessary, or if a sewer line is clogged, drain cleaning or hydro jetting may be required. 

About Scott Plumbing

Scott Plumbing is a local, family-owned and operated company serving the Huntsville community. They offer same-day service, straightforward pricing, and a no-mess promise. Call them for plumbing services in Huntsville, AL. 

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Sump pump setup with PVC pipes and a bucket in a concrete basement, highlighting plumbing service for water management.

Can Sump Pumps Become Your Home's First Line of Defense?

Understanding the Benefits of Sump Pumps

On average, Huntsville has 120 rainy days a year, which makes it one of the rainiest places in Alabama. This means that flooding is a very real concern. And it doesn’t matter where the home is located because 90% of local drainage complaints come from Huntsville residents who do NOT live in the floodplain.

One of the best things Huntsville homeowners can do to protect themselves against flooding and damage to their property is to install a sump pump. A “sump” is a pit or basin typically dug beneath the basement floor. This pit holds the pump or inlet line that removes excess water from the basement through a discharge line to a designated safe drainage area away from home.

That drainage location may be a municipal sewer, a dry well, or a natural runoff point. The important thing is that the site drains well enough that the water does not flow back into the home or onto a neighbor’s property.

How Do Sump Pumps Protect the Home?

sumpA sump pump is a device installed in the lowest part of a home's foundation, typically in the basement or crawlspace. Its purpose is to remove water that has accumulated in the area and prevent flooding.

Sump pumps are powered by electricity and have a float or pressure switch that activates the pump when the water level or pressure rises to a certain point. The sump pump will automatically turn on when that switch senses the water has gotten too high in the basin. 

The pump then discharges the water out of the home through a pipe or hose. Sump pumps have spinning rotors that either suck or push the floodwater out of the pit and into the drainage plumbing.

What Models To Choose From

pumpsThere are two main types of sump pumps:

  • Submersible units
  • Pedestal pumps

A submersible pump is quieter and more powerful, but because it’s submerged underwater, it doesn’t last as long as a pedestal pump.

A pedestal pump has a longer service lifespan than a submersible pump, but it also takes up valuable floor space in the basement. Also, because pedestal pumps are not cooled by surrounding water, they are more prone to overheating.

Although sump pumps are sold in various horsepowers ranging from ¼ HP to 1 HP, the most important consideration is how many gallons of water they can pump per minute.

Never use an extension cord or shared outlet to power a sump pump. Voltage drops can significantly reduce the service life of the pump. The best power source for a sump pump is a dedicated ground-fault circuit interrupter outlet directly connected to its own circuit breaker. A licensed electrician should always install a GFCI. 

Perks of Sump Pumps

A sump pump protects a home from flooding in several ways. Sump pumps are an important part of a home's flood protection system and can help to prevent extensive damage from occurring in the event of a flood. Removing excess water:

  • Prevents structural damage to the building
  • Inhibits the growth of mold and mildew
  • Reduces the danger of electrical hazards due to standing water

It is important to keep in mind that for most standard homeowner’s insurance policies, water damage from a flooded or backed-up basement is NOT covered. 

About Scott Plumbing

Scott Plumbing is a local family-owned and operated business serving its neighbors in Huntsville, AL, and the surrounding areas. They provide straightforward pricing, same-day service, and on-time arrivals. Call them today for sump pump services in Huntsville, AL.

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