in

Old Plumbing: How to Avoid Disasters Caused by Aging Plumbing Materials

Any plumbing that has not been replaced in the last 20-60 years, could lead to problems, particularly in areas such as Toronto, where freezing winter conditions can cause increased wear and tear on parts. Today, we look at some of the reasons why it is important to perform regular plumbing maintenance, ensuring that your parts are up-to-date and damage-free. By ensuring that your plumbing system is modern and well-maintained, you can avoid major plumbing catastrophes.

When you decide to update your plumbing system to use newer parts, be sure to focus on these specific areas:

Galvanized Pipes
Sewer Line
Water Heater
Water Heater

Similar Projects

[su_carousel source="posts: recent" limit="13" link="post" height="160" autoplay="4000"]

Galvanized Pipes

Before the 1960's, plumbers used galvanized steel piping. If you're unsure about whether your home uses galvanized piping, simply turn on the hot water. Low water pressure is a relatively good indicator of galvanized piping, and the fact that it runs slowly, indicates that the pipes are probably plugged up or corroded.

However, this test is not exactly conclusive. There is a chance that even though you have good pressure, you may still have galvanized pipes and unseen issues. Some galvanized pipes in your home may have been replaced, but probably with more galvanized pipe, rather than with plastic or copper, which simply carries the problem further into the future.

On the contrary, when copper piping is attached to galvanized pipe, dielectric coupling is needed in order to prevent corrosion that occurs when different metals touch. It is impossible to tell what junctions look like when they are located inside walls. If the previous owner of your home did a DIY pipe replacement, chances are that there's no dielectric coupling.

[su_divider text="Back to top" link_color="#156fde" size="1" margin="10"]

Sewer Line

Your home's plumbing system starts at the municipal supply line, and all the piping leading from the meter towards the house belongs to the homeowner.

The sewer line that leads from the home to the street belongs to the home, and if an older home is on a sewer line, it can be problematic to homeowners, especially when roots infiltrate the drains or sewer line.

Sewer lines can be made of clay, cast iron or plastic, but older homes have tarpaper sewer lines that definitely need to be replaced. On the other hand, cast iron corrodes, and clay is prone to root intrusions. While plastic is generally very durable, it can become brittle and become crushed, but, if well-maintained, remains the prefered choice.

Of course, all types if sewer materials are subject to clogs due to fats, oils and grease, as well as other objects, so it is important to avoid putting anything down the drain other than what it's intended for.

[su_divider text="Back to top" link_color="#156fde" size="1" margin="10"]

Water Heater

One of the biggest culprits of plumbing disasters, your water heater pipes may become rusted, as could the tank. Leaks commonly occur, which is why you should ensure that there's a drain pan under the tank; this will ensure that water is diverted outside in the event of a leak.

Water heaters should be maintained ounces a year, and replaced after 8-10 years in order to avoid plumbing emergencies. During these maintenance sessions, pipes and other small parts should be replaced, as this will extend the life of your heater.

Tankless water heaters eliminate many of the problems that come with older conventional water heaters.

[su_divider text="Back to top" link_color="#156fde" size="1" margin="10"]

More Ways to Avoid Plumbing Disasters

In addition to the above important old plumbing replacements, take care of the following:


Recaulking the Toilet
Leaking toilets can cause messy disasters and damage your floors. Replacing worn-out caulk can help prevent such leaks.

Check the Water Pressure - Make sure that your home's water pressure is not too high, as it can damage your fixtures and cause leaks that may damage your home.

Order a Maintenance Check - Get in touch with Anta Plumbing to come to your home to perform a maintenance check. Our technicians will look in all the easy-to-overlook areas to detect leaks or potential issues.

What do you think?

Written by Anta

Freezing Climates & Frozen Pipes: How to avoid costly damage

Plumbing Innovation: The Rise in Popularity of the Solar Toilet