It can be frustrating to turn on your hot water in the bathtub and nothing comes out. Worse, you may hear the distant sound of rushing water and realize that your hot water pipe has finally failed. In cases like this, you may need to call an emergency plumber. If you live in an older home, you may be surprised at what the plumber finds.
Pipes That Are No Longer Up to Code
Several types of pipes previously conformed to building codes but no longer do. One example is lead. Lead has been used for plumbing pipes since antiquity, and indeed, the word plumbing derives from plumbum, the Latin word for lead. (The metal’s symbol is still Pb). It’s only recently that people have realized that lead is incredibly toxic. If you have lead pipes, you will need to have your home repiped. This can be costly, but there are programs that can help pay for it.
Another type of pipe found in old homes that’s no longer up to code is galvanized steel. The problem with this material is that the zinc coating can erode. This can damage the pipe to the point that it bursts or is so full of rust that it can’t function.
Polybutylene is another material no longer used for plumbing pipes. It reacts too quickly with oxides and chlorine, which causes the pipes to crack and eventually fail. These types of pipes were popular in mobile homes built in the 1970s through the mid-’90s.
The Pipe Belly
Another emergency plumbing problem in old homes concerns the pipe belly. This is when the main drain buried in the concrete slab or in the ground sags over time. The main drain should decline at a certain angle, but it’s not supposed to sag to the point where wastewater can’t flow into the sewer. In addition, wastewater shouldn’t simply sit in the pipe. The signs of a pipe belly are similar to a broken sewer line and include gurgling in the drain, bad smells and frequent clogs. Professional plumbers can run a video camera down the drain to diagnose the problem. They may have to dig or jackhammer the slab open to get to it. Again, if the main drain is made out of material that’s out of code, it will need to be replaced.
No Matter How Old Your Old House Is, Give the Experts a Call
The plumbing problems of a home that was built when lead piping was state-of-the-art can be daunting. However, if you do need emergency plumbing services for your old home in Savannah, Georgia, don’t hesitate to call on our professional plumbers at TNT.
