Toilet Repairs for Older Homes in the Eastern Suburbs

The stunning homes of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs stand tall with their gorgeous façades and historic beauty. But there's something most people don't talk about—these beautiful vintage houses come with an added layer of not-so-beautiful plumbing challenges.

Owning an older home requires specialised care and maintenance to keep everything running smoothly. And it's not just about inconvenience—there are actually legal requirements you've got to follow under the NSW Heritage Act. Homes must adhere to minimum standards for repairs, whether owned privately, by local councils, or as public property.

This involves homeowners needing to ensure protection against weather and irreparable damage or deterioration. That means maintenance of your plumbing systems should be of high priority, with repairs occurring in a timely and specialised manner.

One specific area of concern in many of these homes is the bathroom, where decades of moisture, outdated fixtures, and original plumbing often lead to structural damage and other challenges. Let's get into some of the most common issues, and the repairs homeowners can use to combat them.

Common Toilet Problems in Older Homes

Broken water service, leaking faucets or toilet cisterns and blocked or broken stormwater and sewer lines in heritage buildings require urgent maintenance to meet today's efficiency and safety standards.

For example, though historically robust, cast-iron pipes are prone to rust and corrosion, lead pipes are no longer standard practice and are a serious health risk, and fragile clay pipes are prone to breaking, though often used in sewer lines. The presence of these in an older home may lead to worn-out or leaking pipes, systemic blockages, or the dreaded faulty toilet flushing.

Toilet issues in heritage bathrooms are displayed in a range of ways:

• Phantom flush. A toilet bowl that spontaneously refills indicates a slow leak from the tank into the bowl.
• Weak flush. This is caused by a malfunctioning mechanism in the toilet cistern, restricted flow, blockage in the water pipes, poor venting or a drainage issue.
• Leaky seals. This occurs when toilets have multiple seals that can leak and cause water damage.

Maintaining Toilets in Heritage Homes

Regular inspections are imperative for the restoration and troubleshooting of plumbing issues in old homes. This involves checking for visible leaks around pipes in the basement and near fixtures. Also, look for suspicious puddles and flooding around the exterior of your property—they could be a sign of a leak or a larger plumbing problem. Likewise, assessing the water flow and pressure for discrepancies might indicate hidden water leaks or blockages.

Inspect pipe conditions for signs of rust or corrosion. Use a torch to examine joints, valves, taps, sinks, drains, shower, toilet base and cistern, and various hard-to-reach components of your drainage system.

There are ways to preserve historical elements of your plumbing while modernising for functionality:

• Maintain the historical aesthetic with period-appropriate fixtures, while incorporating modern water conservation equipment.
• Enhance safety and functionality by replacing lead with copper or PEX.
• Protect against potential contaminants from old pipes with the installation of a house-wide water filter.

The NSW Government requests homeowners identify responsibility for repair costs and check if repair costs are claimable against insurance and that the appropriate authorities have been advised.

DIY Toilet Repairs vs. When to Call a Professional Plumber

Though homeowners are encouraged to make their old homes safe and liveable, the expertise of plumbing professionals is required to ensure features of the building are not damaged in the process. At the same time, an updated bathroom must still complement the original features of the house, which can be a tricky DIY project.

Simple fixes homeowners can do themselves include:

• Regularly clean gutters and drainpipes to stop blockage and water buildup and ensure proper drainage from the foundation.
• Inspect the roof, chimneys and vents each year to prevent water leakage that could severely damage your infrastructure.
• Stop moisture from seeping into walls and seal windows and doors, thereby reducing the risk of mould growth.

Any other jobs, from shower leaks or water pressure challenges to renovations and fittings of a washer and kitchen sink or toilet system replacement, would indicate a professional plumbing team is required.

Any renovation of any old home that affects water supply lines, sewer pipes, and drainpipes must be inspected before any upgrade. A plumber with expert knowledge of heritage pipelines and bathroom specific issues will be able to cover everything from budget, advice and solutions unique to your home, compliance guarantee and quality care.

Choosing a Plumbing Service in the Eastern Suburbs

Ultimately, when working in a location as rich with historic homes as Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, you want a local plumbing service that has both experience and knowledge of government regulations.

Based right here ourselves, Plumberoo's team of expert plumbers is here to help our Eastern Suburbs clients and neighbours as quickly as possible with the highest satisfaction rate and value for money. Our detailed knowledge of your area and 24/7 call-out service make us the very best choice for all your plumbing needs. We can be at your home ready to solve any plumbing problems within two hours!

In doubt? Chat with our customer service team for free plumbing advice today.