So, you’ve fallen in love with that charming old house—the one with all the character, the beautiful moldings, and the solid bones. These homes offer so much character so many visions, and it’s like taking a step back in time when you walk through each room, right?

But before you start envisioning your vintage furniture in every room, there’s something crucial that often gets overlooked: the plumbing. Yep, old houses come with old plumbing, and that can mean a host of potential problems if not addressed early on. Technically, old houses come with a lot of issues that go beyond just the indoor plumbing, like the electrical wiring, the foundation, the gas, and so on. But right now, the plumbing might be the biggest issue of them all.

So, with that all said, let’s talk about the essential plumbing changes you should consider when owning or buying an old house.

Assess the Plumbing Material

The first thing to consider is the material of the existing pipes. Now, you really need to keep in mind that older homes might have plumbing made of galvanized steel, lead, or even cast iron. While these materials were once standard, they don’t hold up well over time. That’s surprising, right? So, galvanized steel pipes, for example, are prone to corrosion and can lead to reduced water pressure and rusty water. Lead pipes, which were banned for water supply in the 1980s, are a major health hazard and should be replaced immediately if found. If your old house still has outdated plumbing materials, replacing them with copper or PVC is a wise investment.

Sometimes there doesn’t need to be a lot of upfront cost, for example here in Kentucky there are a lot of resources to help homeowners remove lead pipes from their home and this can also include lessening the financial burden too due to the large health risks that these have.

Upgrade the Plumbing Fixtures

Another area that often gets overlooked in old homes is the plumbing fixtures. Those antique faucets and clawfoot tubs might look amazing, but they could be hiding serious problems. So, it’s so important to understand that old fixtures are often less efficient, leading to higher water bills. They may also be more prone to leaks, which can cause water damage and mold issues over time.

Ideally, it’s just best to go ahead and consider upgrading to more efficient, modern fixtures. You’re going to want to look for WaterSense-labeled products, which are designed to save water without sacrificing performance.

Check for Hidden Leaks

The scary thought is that old homes often have hidden leaks that can go undetected for years. While homeowners will question why their water bill is so high, many will just assume that their water company upped the price. 

But this is a big deal, not just for your wallet but for the whole house in general. These leaks can cause serious damage to the structure of the house, not to mention the potential for mold growth. One of the most common (and potentially damaging) types of leaks in old homes is a slab leak.

Why is this a big deal? Well, it can lead to water seeping into the foundation, causing it to crack and settle unevenly. This does far more damage than rain could ever do, so if you’re even slightly suspicious of this, then you’ll need to look into slab leak repair ASAP because fixing your foundation is far more expensive than fixing your plumbing (sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars).

Install a Water Filtration System

Chances are, the water quality in older homes might not be up to modern standards. So, this was already mentioned above but pipes can leach contaminants into the water, and older homes might have water supplies that aren’t as clean as they should be (especially due to the quality of pipes). 

So, that’s why it’s a good idea to look into installing a whole-house water filtration system that can help ensure that the water coming out of your taps is safe and clean. You can easily buy one of these from Amazon and install it yourself.

Don’t Forget About the Insulation

Finally, if you’re dealing with old plumbing, don’t forget about insulation. Old homes are often drafty, and the pipes might not be adequately insulated. This can lead to frozen pipes in the winter, which can burst and cause extensive water damage. If you’re from Kentucky, then you’re probably more familiar with the freezing temperatures, especially in January and February, and busted pipes can get really expensive to fix.