 Wellington has a wealth of quirky old homes that make for enchanting 'doer uppers'. When shopping for a home, it'll be a very rare instance in which you actually manage to find a new build anywhere in the vicinity of the CBD. An old home can be a charmer on the outside, but it takes a seasoned Wellington plumber to know that appearances can be deceptive...especially when it comes to buildings. Beneath the quaint wooden floors and freshly-painted walls lies a world unseen. Unseen, that is, until you're calling up your local Wellington plumber with a plumbing emergency! Old drains and pipework lay weakened and worn, ready to 'strike' as it were at any time. Be it a slow drip in the wall or a full-on flood, we're here to tell you what to expect to avoid plumbing emergencies in your 'new' old Wellington home! Problematic Pipework Many older Wellington homes have galvanized piping installed throughout them. Galvanised pipework is fashioned with steel and coated with zinc, a substance which inevitably erodes in years of use. It looses its ability to protect the pipes, and leaves them exposed to wear, tear, and the elements. As your galvanised Wellington plumbing and drainage system corrodes in this way, your pipes will be exposed and generally filled with sediment that blocks water flow. When this happens, you can expect issues like: - Slow water pressure - Stuck faucets - Clogged or weak toilets - Foul smelling or coloured water - Leaks If you find yourself regularly calling your Wellington plumber with an emergency or when you need a faucet or toilet repaired, there's a good chance that your home is built with a galvanized plumbing system. Older homes may not have lagging on the pipes as well, which can lead to pipes cracking open on colder days, if the frost hits all of a sudden. Earthquakes shake things up It's no secret that Wellington can shake and shimmy when tectonic plates start colliding. Earthquakes can cause some serious drama for your plumbing system, and leave your pipework permanently damaged. Other than having no control over this naturally occurring problem, we also don't end up seeing the after affects of earthquake damage until it's too late. When the earth moves your drains, it causes bends (or bellies) to form in your plumbing system. Over time, these can be filled with sediment as matter struggles to pass through them, leading to blockages and eventual bursts. Pro tip from your Wellington master plumbers: when a decent earthquake hits, give us a call! Get a professional plumber in to check your pipework for damage before you lose a wall to a sneaky leak, or a basement to surprise flooding. If you're looking to purchase an older house in Wellington, it would pay to get a plumber in to give your potential dream home a decent inspection for earthquake damage. What should I do if I've found an old home that might have plumbing problems? Get in touch with the talented team at Maxey Plumbing Wellington! Our expert team of master plumbers have the years of experience required to inspect your home for any signs of drainage decay or damage. With age we have often found that parts simply need to be replaced. No excuses. If you're buying a fixer-upper then please be sure to include replacing toilets, faucets, shower heads and shutoff valves in your renovation budget. For the ultimate future-proof, professionally plumbed home, leave it to the Maxey Plumbing team of expert plumbers. Email - [email protected] Phone - 04 390 0135 Comments are closed.
|