Most of the homes in Ocean County, NJ, date back to between 1950 and 1970. That means many households use plumbing systems that are 50 years old or older. Older plumbing systems are prone to problems because of deteriorated materials and outdated design practices. Let's explore the issues you may be experiencing and what you can do about them.
Experiencing Deterioration of Pipes
Modern homes often feature piping materials made from plastic, such as PEX, with some copper components. Older houses usually have cast iron, galvanized steel, and other metals. Metal pipes are prone to corrosion, which can lead to leaks, water contamination, and pressure issues. This corrosion usually occurs due to the presence of minerals in the water.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
Pipe replacement is the most effective way to deal with deteriorated pipes. For buried lines, pipe bursting and other trenchless techniques may be an option. A plumber will usually recommend a direct replacement for the pipes in your home. It's possible to replace the older pipes in sections. However, whole-house repiping will generally be less expensive in the long term.
Frozen Pipes in the Wintertime
Pipes can freeze when temperatures reach 20 degrees Fahrenheit, a common occurrence in Ocean County during winter. Older houses are often more prone to freezing pipes. This may be due to pipe installation near the exterior walls. Older homes also tend to have looser building envelopes, which means there's greater exposure in general.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
If you have pipes near exterior walls, the best solution is to move them further inside. You should insulate all pipes in unheated areas, including attics, garages, basements, and crawl spaces. A plumber can install heating cables for pipes that are particularly prone to freezing. On freezing nights, open your under-sink cabinet doors. This will allow the heating in the home to reach the pipes and prevent freezing.
Issues With Poor Drainage
All homes can develop drainage issues over time, but it's more common in older plumbing. An older metal pipe, for instance, will often have textures that can trap organic materials. Buildup can lead to slow and noisy drainage and, eventually, standing water. If the obstructions are deeper in the system, you may experience multiple slow drains, noisy toilets, and fluctuating toilet water levels.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
Be careful what you put down your drains, and call a plumber at the earliest indication of a drainage problem, including unpleasant smells. We also recommend scheduling preventative drain cleaning rather than waiting for a problem. A manual or motorized drain auger can correct most local drainage issues. More serious buildups may require high-pressure drain cleaning. Hydro jetting is effective for sewer line health because it clears blockages and cleans pipe walls.
Flooding in Your Home and on Your Property
Ocean County often experiences heavy rain that can lead to flooding. Low-lying properties and high-water tables can exacerbate these problems. An older home may be more prone to water damage to its landscape, hardscape, basement, crawl space, or ground floor.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
You need a sump pump if there's any risk of flooding. If you're unsure, schedule an appointment with our team so that we can conduct an assessment. The best protection is a primary submersible pump paired with a battery backup pump. Experts recommend the backup even if you have a whole-home generator. The backup will take over seamlessly if the power goes out. Regular maintenance is also crucial. Sump pump season in Ocean County begins in spring, so you should schedule an inspection toward the end of winter.
High Concentrations of Minerals
Hard water is a common problem throughout Ocean County due to the local geography. Water hardness refers to the levels of calcium and other minerals in the water. You may have moderately hard or harder water, whether you have a well system or municipal water. Hard water deteriorates pipes, fixtures, and appliances, and it undermines energy efficiency.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
You can flush boilers and tank water heaters, as well as descale tankless water heaters, to remove limescale. If there's scale buildup in pipes, high-pressure cleaning and hydro jetting are solutions. Local anti-scale devices are an effective way to prevent buildup in boilers, water heaters, and other water-using appliances. For homes with hard-to-very-hard water, experts often recommend a point-of-entry water softener. It will remove the minerals before the water enters the home to protect all pipes, fixtures, and appliances.
Low Water Pressure From Fixtures
Older plumbing systems are often prone to low pressure that continues to worsen incrementally over time. It affects showers, faucets, and appliances, making your home less comfortable and convenient.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
Pipe deterioration is often a big problem because corrosion and scale shrink the pipe diameter. High-pressure pipe cleaning may be a solution, but pipe replacement is often the best option. Replacing old valves will likely improve pressure. You may have a faulty pressure regulator, and replacing it will greatly restore pressure. Streamlining a complex pipe network can improve pressure. Plumbers can also add aerators to improve faucet pressure.
Experiencing High Water Usage
High water consumption and water bills are more common in older rather than newer homes. Many local water companies, such as the Ocean County Utilities Authority, post average household usage. Use that data to determine whether your usage is higher than normal. You should also sign up for high-use alerts.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
If your usage is very high, the first step is to schedule leak detection. Slab plumbing leaks, for instance, can exist for a long time without the household detecting them. The other consideration is how old your fixtures are. Consider that old toilets can use 5 or more gallons every flush. Modern toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons. There are also high-efficiency toilets that use no more than 1.28 gallons and offer dual-flush capabilities. Other upgrades to consider include low-flow showerheads and touchless faucets with integrated aerators.
Poor Quality of Water
The Ocean County Health Department performs testing every Monday and regularly publishes water quality reports. Still, many people dislike the taste and smell of their water. This is due to the chemicals used and, in the case of older homes, the plumbing.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
Replace older pipes that may affect the taste and smell of your water. For even better taste and peace of mind, consider a whole-house water purifier. Water purifiers can remove particulates, chemicals, gases, pathogens, and much more.
Adhering to Code Compliance
Plumbing codes have evolved greatly over the last 50 years. Grandfather clauses generally protect you from having to update simply because the local codes have changed. That said, there may be reasons you want to upgrade. It's often necessary when selling a home to achieve your desired price and time on the market. Partial code compliance may also be necessary if you need a plumbing permit, such as for a tankless water heater installation.
Considering Potential Plumbing Solutions
Schedule a whole-home plumbing inspection. A plumbing inspector from our team will provide you with an itemized list of code compliance issues. You can then explore what aspects of your plumbing you should upgrade and how to prioritize those tasks.
Reliable Plumbing Solutions for Older Homes in Ocean County
Our team is available for annual inspections, routine maintenance, and winterization. We also perform replacement and new installations of pipes, fixtures, appliances, water treatment solutions, and a wide range of other services. Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® today.
