As one of America’s first planned communities, founded in 1869 and incorporated in 1875, Riverside, IL, has more historic buildings than most notable places in the USA. Impact Realty real estate support recognizes that here, in this charming village, it is not uncommon to find homes built over 130 years ago. This is a big part of what gives Riverside its characteristic “Village in the Forest” aesthetic.
But this historical heritage also creates modern problems for homes and homeowners in this location. The majority of Riverside homes have plumbing systems that were installed ages ago and are now grossly inadequate for modern water usage. These systems, some built more than seven decades ago, struggle with significant structural and functional problems.
What are the issues with the plumbing systems in older Riverside homes?
Why do older homes in Riverside, IL suffer from frequent plumbing issues?
Outdated plumbing materials
Many homes in this area still have galvanized steel, lead, or cast-iron plumbing pipes. Although sturdy, these materials are highly prone to corrosion. Galvanized steel lines slowly rust from the inside, narrowing the pipe channel and causing water pressure issues in the home. Cast iron pipes, on their part, become brittle with time and are more likely to crack. As they break down, lead pipes leach heavy metals into drinking water, exposing households, especially young children, to serious health issues.
Hidden leaks due to aging and weather
Aging metal pipes made of galvanized steel, lead, or cast-iron do not react well to the extreme and sudden temperature changes common in Riverside. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles cause micro-tears that eventually compromise the structural soundness of these pipes. With time, they slowly develop tiny leaks or cracks and corroded joints. These small leaks silently and steadily release water into the walls, flooring, and foundations of the building, causing mold, wood rot, insulation damage, and structural failure.
Water pressure issues
This problem is threefold. On one hand, corrosion and rust combine to reduce the effective diameter of aging metal pipes, causing low water pressure in the home. At the same time, high rates of mineral deposits within the pipes, due to Riverside’s unusually hard water, serve to further restrict water flow inside the system. To compound the issues, high water pressure from the municipal supply often increases the strain on the plumbing, causing leaks in the already brittle pipes and further weakening pipe joints.
Greater risk of sudden plumbing failure
The above problems increase the risk that Riverside homes will suffer sudden plumbing system failures. Aged pipes with microfractures, which are subject to severe temperature changes and constant water pressure issues, will eventually fail. These failures may happen without warning – one day the plumbing appears to be working fine, and the next, the household is dealing with a plumbing emergency. This risk increases the potential for water damage and higher plumbing maintenance costs in Riverside homes.
Tree root invasion
Older plumbing pipes – clay, cast iron, and galvanized steel – are highly susceptible to tree root invasion. Their vulnerability stems from their tendency to develop hundreds of small cracks across their entire surface as the pipes degrade. These cracks provide footholds for tiny plant roots to infiltrate the pipe and damage the plumbing line further. Plant roots can also exploit the weak joints that are common in aging pipe systems to colonize the pipe. Tree root invasion is more common in drainage pipes.
Why these problems often go unnoticed, and what you can do
Plumbing pipes are not exactly the most visible systems in a home, and because they are out of sight, it is not always easy to detect problems in the network. As a result, symptoms of imminent plumbing failures can stay hidden for years until they suddenly break out into a major burst pipe emergency in the home.
But there are ways to avoid this outcome.
Regular inspections
Regular plumbing inspections help Riverside homeowners stay up-to-date with the condition of their plumbing systems. These inspections can detect hidden leaks inside the walls and flooring of the home. They can identify developing problems, helping homeowners deal with them early and cheaply before they cause costly damage.
Proactive maintenance
This is a practice of solving the home’s plumbing problems before they happen (preventive) instead of after they have happened (corrective). An important example of proactive maintenance is regular drain cleaning. By having the home’s drainage systems cleaned professionally on a schedule, homeowners can prevent many plumbing problems.
Upgraded plumbing systems
Ultimately, owners of older Riverside homes must replace their aged pipes if they hope to solve their home’s persistent plumbing issues permanently. Newer pipe materials like PVC, CPVC, and PEX do not have the same problems as older ones. Although this upgrade is often costly, the savings that follow are quite substantial. Furthermore, to make the project less burdensome, it can be done in stages, instead of all at once.
What is the best option for your Riverside home? Should you start thinking of repiping your home, or do you just need better plumbing maintenance? It depends on the physical condition of your plumbing pipes. If you would like a definitive answer to this question, our experienced Riverside, IL plumbers can help you. Call 708-801-6530 now.
