Plumbing pros: Are you a little anxious when pulling up to a very old home for a service call? Not surprising. Old, historic homes have timeless charm, beautiful craftsmanship and a “solidness” that simply can’t be duplicated with today’s construction techniques. But their plumbing? It can cause headaches for plumbers at best, disasters for homeowners at worst.

Here are some of the challenges you might be facing out there in older homes and tips to avoid mishaps and dangers when dealing with old pipes.

A backed-up sink in a century-old home isn’t a simple matter of snaking out the clog. Here are some common challenges you might encounter.

Accessibility. In older homes, it’s rare to find access panels to plumbing that’s hidden behind walls. And more often than not, those walls are made of plaster, a metal screen and wood lathing. If you don’t have ready access to the pipes, it can be a complex job.

Materials. Unless the homeowner has done extensive re-plumbing work, you’re not likely to find PEX or copper pipes. Back in the day, they used lead, galvanized steel, or even cast iron, all of which are prone to corrosion and rust.

Configuration. Older homes can have “unique” plumbing layouts that don’t readily make sense to us today.

Asbestos. It’s very common to find asbestos wrapping and insulation around pipes in older homes.

Tips for plumbers

If you’ve been in this business long enough, you’ve heard stories about plumbers called in to unclog a kitchen sink in an old home, and it ends with a cracked, old, rusted pipe, water damage and an insurance claim.

Here are some tips to avoid that.

Know the home’s plumbing history. Going into a job cold, plumbers don’t know the history of the pipes, what has been done, what has been replaced… or not. If pipes are hidden behind walls, you don’t know if they’re PEX that were replaced last year or the same 100-year-old lead pipes the home was built with. Before you start the job, ask the homeowner about the home’s plumbing history.

Ask about water pressure. Does the homeowner experience lower water pressure when running the shower and washing machine at the same time? That’s an indication of corrosion.

Assess what you can. Yes, plumbing in older homes can be hidden behind walls, but many older homes have open-ceilinged basements or utility rooms where you can see the water lines. Look for the exposed drain-waste-vent lines to get a sense of what you’re dealing with.

Use technology. In older homes, cameras are an invaluable asset. Run a camera through the pipe to check out the situation before you start work.

Expect the unexpected. Working in older homes always brings surprises, many of them unwelcomed. Schedule more time than you usually plan for a basic kitchen clog if you’re dealing with an older home.

Bottom line, old homes are beautiful and well made, but they can pose challenges and headaches for plumbers. Getting as much information up front as you can will prevent accidents or mishaps later.