If you have never lived in an older home, you may not be prepared for some of the common challenges that living in such a place can have. While older homes have charm and history, they can also have issues with some of their hidden features. You may need to schedule inspections of several systems in the house or plan to make upgrades to ensure that you can enjoy living in the space for years to come.
Where an Home Shows Its Age: Electricity
One of the first signs of wear in an older home is electricity. If you have a home built during the 20th century or earlier, it may not have wiring to handle modern needs. For instance, people today have computers, televisions, cellphone chargers, and many more electronic devices that people even 20 years ago didn’t have. Therefore, upgrading the electricity if moving into an aging home, especially if it’s one that hasn’t been lived in for a few years.
If you have circuit breakers that keep tripping or lights that dim when other appliances turn on, get an electrician to evaluate your home’s electricity.
Where an Home Shows Its Age: Plumbing
The plumbing is another area in which an older home can show its age. Today’s plumbing fixtures and appliances use much less water than in previous eras. For instance, new faucets could cut water use from those fixtures by 36%. Plus, older kitchens and bathrooms often have dated styles and colors. Pastels were popular in the 1950s, and harvest gold was commonly used in the 1970s. Upgrading plumbing appliances can save water and keep your home from looking dated.
Hidden leaks could also cause damage inside the walls. Therefore, getting an inspection of the plumbing system to check for and repair leaks is a prudent idea for an older home.
Where an Home Shows Its Age: Roof
The roof is another area of concern for an older home. The wear and tear on a roof come from rain, fallen tree branches, sun, hail, snow, and other elements that break down its structure causing leaks over time. A good rule of thumb to follow is to replace your roof if it is more than 15 years old or if you need to repair more than half of it.
Reach Out to Plumbing Concepts in Southern California for Plumbing Inspections and Repairs of Your Home
If you want to upgrade your home’s plumbing, call us at Plumbing Concepts. We have a team of expert technicians that contribute to repairs, service, upgrades, and new plumbing installations daily. We can help you to get the plumbing in your older home working like new through appliance replacements, inspections, upgrades, and repairs.