Old houses are very charming to buy because they have an antique, vintage look that gives a great feel. But every magic comes with a price. When you inherit the grandeur of the old house, you also receive its drain problems.
When purchasing an old house, you need to have a checklist to know what problems might be present and how to deal with them. Here is the list to help you make your decision:
1. Bellied Pipes
Like aging people, pipes also have bulging bellies that are formed due to the weight to waste that gets stuck in the bends of the pipe. The bellies produce sagging in the pipes eventually resulting in broken pipes.
The only way to solve the problem is to clean the pipes and that is only possible if you get the drainage inspected with a drainage inspection camera.
2. Corrosion
Most old houses have pipes made of iron or alloys installed within the walls or under the floor. After some time, these pipes are bound to be impacted by corrosion. It’s a common drain problem that can only be solved with identification of the exact place where the pipe has a leakage. There is no way to repair these pipes, they can only be replaced. But if it is not possible to replace a pipe, you can at least check it with drainage camera to see how much it is corroded and how much life it has left in it.
3. Copper Pipes Stolen
If the house has not been inhabited for some time, there is a chance that thieves might have cut out the copper pipes wherever accessible. Copper pipes are expensive because the element is not abundant anymore. You can also use the drainage camera to find out if there are any missing pieces in the copper pipes.
4. Original Sanitary
The old house might have its original faucets, valves and handles still working. Even though they might look like they are functional without any problem, they might be leaking from beneath. Such leakages can cause a disastrous impact on the value of the property because they seep into the group and weaken the foundation of the house, sometimes to the extent of making the house unable to live in due to safety hazards.
Being cautious, you should get them all checked with drainage inspection professionals with modern equipment like Scanprobe.
5. Tree Roots
Trees don’t grow in days but when they grow, there is no stopping them. Tree roots often find their way inside the pipelines. First, small cracks are made that allow the roots to go in. Once inside, the roots gain nutrition from the drainage line and grow even more quickly.
Finding tree roots is easy with Maxproble – a product by Scanprobe. The drainage inspection camera goes deep into the pipeline and finds all possible blockage no matter how they are produced. It is a comprehensive solution to all drain problems in old houses.
Whether you are buying an old house or you have already purchased it, you must get its drainage system scanned by Scanprobe before renovation and moving in. Once you have moved in, it would be very inconvenient to check all the drainage lines and break any walls or flooring to repair them. The drainage camera equipment Maxprobe has a long battery life so it is likely that the professionals get through the inspection process quickly and save you precious time.