Things You Should Know
About Old-House Plumbing
by Gary Feuerstein, P.E.
Wood develops a patina as it gets
old; plumbing develops leaks. In
other words, plumbing is one thing
that doesn't get better as it gets older.
From the moment they are put into
use, pipes, seals, and fixtures begin to
deteriorate. Throw in a remodeling or
two, and it's easy to imagine that the
integrity of a 60-year-old-plus system
may be less than perfect.
Serious hazards lurk in plumbing
that was installed or adapted improperly.
Leaks and noise are minor
irritations compared to the contamination
of supply water or the escape
of dangerous gases into a building.
Old plumbing isn't all bad news.
Fortunately, the piping networks—the
key part of