There are many great benefits of investing in an older home, with a lower up-front purchase price being one of the most desirable. However, it’s important to remember that older homes were built with many materials that are now outdated. You can benefit from adding many different plumbing upgrades to your older home, several of which we’ll discuss in some detail.
1. PEX Piping
One of the best upgrades that you can do for your plumbing system is to replace its existing piping. Older homes were constructed with different types of plumbing materials, some of which have been shown to develop problems or create health issues. For example, lead piping was a popular material to use in the earlier part of the 20th century due to its easy accessibility.
However, lead endangers people who consume it in drinking water. Upgrading to new PEX piping can provide you with many great benefits. It’s safe to use for water supply lines and flexible, which means that it requires fewer fittings. This can save you money on installation costs.
2. Tankless Water Heater
Another great upgrade for your older home is a tankless water heater. These appliances are much smaller and have a much higher operating efficiency than the traditional tank water heater. With a higher operating efficiency, you can easily lower your water heater’s energy bills. Also, tankless water heaters have a much longer lifespan than traditional tank water heaters.
3. Low-Flow Fixtures
With your home’s water bill making up about 10% to 15% of your total utility expenditure for the year, it only makes sense to invest in plumbing upgrades that will help to lower your water usage. One of the best investments you can make is to install low-flow fixtures. These are available for faucets as well as showerheads.
The key is that they use a special aeration device that helps to mix air with the water coming out of your spigot. This doesn’t decrease the water pressure, so it’s hard to tell the difference between a faucet that has an aerator and one that doesn’t. However, it can make a huge difference in how much water you use when taking a shower or using your sink.
4. High-Efficiency Toilets
Toilets are one of those long-lasting plumbing fixtures that have a useful life of 50 to 70 years or more. If your toilet was made before 1994, then it likely uses a large amount of water with every flush. The average toilet today is mandated to use 1.6 gallons or less per flush, while many of the older toilets use 5 gallons or more.
While simply upgrading to a standard efficiency toilet can help to greatly reduce your water consumption, you can also opt to take it a step further and purchase a high-efficiency toilet. These high-efficiency toilets use anywhere between 1 and 1.28 gallons per flush.
5. Insulation
One commonly overlooked upgrade that you can provide for your plumbing system is to add insulation. Insulation should be installed on both your cold and hot water supply lines. The idea is that insulation acts as a barrier between the temperature of your water and the temperature of the air surrounding it. Insulation will help prevent your cold-water supply lines from freezing during cold weather and help your hot water supply lines retain more of their heat as water travels to your various faucets and appliances.
6. Smart Leak Detection System
There’s no doubt that plumbing leaks can lead to a lot of water usage and extensive damage to the various building components and belongings in your home. A great way to be alerted of a potential leak is with a smart home leak detection system. This system uses a series of sensors that are placed underneath the drainpipes, faucets, shower valves, appliance water supply lines, and so forth to let you know whenever water is detected in the area. When that happens, the system will send an alert to your smartphone so that you can react quickly.
You can also invest in smart plumbing valves. These valves work in conjunction with your leak detection sensors to shut off supply valves to areas that develop a leak in your home. This is great for when you’re not at home to respond quickly to help prevent excessive water from damaging your home.
7. Water Softener System
If you notice that there seems to be a limescale buildup on your plumbing fixtures, then you have hard water in your home. This is water that has a high concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Apart from that pesky limescale buildup, these excess minerals can cause extensive damage to your plumbing system and lead to premature deterioration of your plumbing system’s components.
One of the best ways to handle hard water in your home is to install a water softener system. This system uses a specialized ion exchange process to help remove the minerals from your water before they reach all the plumbing fixtures and appliances in your home. By treating the water as soon as it comes into your home, you can help eliminate any damage that the minerals would otherwise cause.
8. Water Filtration System
If you’re concerned about the quality of the drinking water in your home, you may want to invest in a water filtration system. These systems work to remove impurities from your water and improve its taste while removing any unpleasant odors. A reverse osmosis system is the most common type of water filtration system, and it uses a four-stage process for optimal results. A water filtration system can give you peace of mind that everyone in your household will be drinking safe and healthy water free of toxic contaminants.
9. Sump Pump
It isn’t uncommon for older homes to have flooding in their basements. Unfortunately, this flooding doesn’t only damage your belongings and the structural components of your home, but it can also lead to toxic mold and mildew growth. Investing in a sump pump can be a great way to help protect your home from these unfortunate events. This water removal system is set up so that it automatically kicks on whenever excess water is coming into your home, no matter whether you’re there or not.
10. New Sewer and Drain Lines
Over the years, many different plumbing materials have been used for drain and sewer lines. Unfortunately, some of these materials don’t stand up as well as others. If you’re constantly experiencing clogging at your home, you may want to consider investing in replacing your drain and sewer lines. With trenchless sewer repair and sewer pipe relining, this process is much easier and less invasive than ever before.
Expert Plumbing Installation Service
Twin Peaks Plumbing, Heating & Gas offers expert plumbing installation service, like a tankless water heater, to the Nanaimo, BC area. We can also help with all your plumbing repair and maintenance needs.
Call our friendly staff today to schedule your next plumbing service consultation with one of our helpful plumbing professionals.
