Older and historic homes hold a certain charm and beautiful architectural detail and workmanship that you cannot find in a modern home. But when you are the owner of such a historical home you get to enjoy its beauty but it can come along with problems relating to its age, especially in its plumbing. Here are some tips to consider when you are the owner of an older home and you are facing problems and repairs with the plumbing.

Hire a Plumbing Inspection

One of the first things you can do to help you understand and handle future repairs and problems in your older home's plumbing is to hire a professional plumbing inspection. Often the plumbing in older homes includes many types and styles of pipework and updates. 

For example, an older historic home may have clay pipe or Orangeburg pipe installed as a sewer line. Over time, this type of sewer line will deteriorate and fail, causing you as the current homeowner clogs and backups. Then, the home may have gone through a long list of owners who used the property for various uses, such as a multi-family property, or a business, which may have required them to make additions or alterations to the original plumbing and resulting in your having to figure out how the plumbing is set up today. 

Hire a plumber to complete video inspection of the interior of your sewer line. They can go in through the sewer cleanout or cleanouts to find out where the sewer lines run and how they are connected to the home. Your home may have more than one main drain line, which may be aging and showing signs of failure. Having a visual of your sewer lines makes the once cloudy understanding of your home's sewer line into a clear understanding so you and your plumber can make the necessary repairs and updates. 

Ask if You Need Special Permits for Repairs

Another important consideration is if your home is listed as a historical home and you will need approval from a local historical preservation society before you can complete any alterations to the home's structure. So, if you need to tear into one of the home's interior walls or make a new cut through the basement foundation, make sure you take time to get the right approval and pay for any fees associated with this process. 

Talk to services like Clearwater Plumbing and ask if you need any special permits. They will have likely encountered similar issues as they have worked with historical homeowners in the past, especially if they are seasoned. Or you can check with your local historical preservation society to find out their recommendations.