Old houses have loads of charm. They are so attractive because of the quirks they have that new construction just can’t. There are nooks, crannies, and lots of stories inside those four walls. Unfortunately, that’s not all that old houses have.
There are a lot of things that need to be taken care of when you buy a new home. You’re not just buying the interesting details and the creaky stairs. You’re also buying the problems that an old house has since they haven’t been modernized or updated in a long time. In this article, we will go over what it takes to get your old house ready to live in.
1 – Make it safe from fire
Unfortunately, many old houses are fire traps and need to have some serious safety checks done. Seeing as how most house fires begin with poor electrical, it is important to check the entire system to see if there are any areas of concern.
Usually, there are old wires that have corroded insulation and the wire itself is exposed, this can heat up the surrounding wall and start a fire. Also, the wiring in old houses is of a narrow gauge that is far too thin for modern electrical demands. This puts a strain on the wiring which causes overheating and a fire risk.
Many of these old houses also have fireplaces. You may be tempted to get a cozy fire going right away but try to avoid it. The chimney likely has soot and creosote buildup inside that will light up on fire. Before you get a fire going, make a call to Pro-Tech Chimney Sweeps and have them clean out the chimney. They will give you an evaluation, in addition to letting you know how to keep your fireplace safe.
2 – Upgrade the plumbing
A modern family needs to have a modern bathroom. Slow flushing toilets and sinks are a sign that you probably have some plumbing issues. You may also have some leaky pipes around that are not so obvious.
These are things that can end up costing you a lot of money to get fixed if they become worse problems. Once you move in and there is a strain on the plumbing system then you’re likely to have a problem on your hands very soon after.
Check for leaky pipes and then change the old ones for long-lasting PVC ones that are not going to leak or burst. Then, look into getting those drains unclogged as they could be from roots growing into the sewer drain which is common in old houses.
3 – Look for cracks
Old houses tend to settle over time. This can cause cracks in the foundation that will end up letting water in and destabilizing the entire structure. Do a thorough check of the foundation as well as bowed walls or mold around.
You’ll need to fix the issue as soon as possible when you see any signs of a faulty foundation.
