The term “mix and match” might be good for fashion, but not so good for wiring and plumbing in an older home you may be thinking of purchasing.
As the market has slowed in many area of the country, buyers waiving inspections (thankfully) is a very uncommon occurance. I believe that every home purchase should be contingent on a thourough home inspection by an idependent professional inspector. There are many available, and with the slowing market, every easy to schedule.
Every home inspection should include not only structural elements, but major systems such as plumbing and electrical. Generally, depending on when a home is built, plumbling may be copper, PVC, Pex or galvanized steel. This product, galvanized steel, was used heavily during the post WWII housing boom and can be quite problematic. Like an artery in the human body that becomes constricted by plaque, galvanized pipes become constricted with mineral deposits and “gunk”, lessening waterflow and creating other problems. Often sections of these pipes can be cut out and replaced – mixing types of pipe used in the home. It is not unusual for a plumbing company to recommend an expensive re-pipe of the whole home. Neccessary? Maybe, maybe not. There are many homes with galvanized pipe having few to no issues.
Homes built prior to the 1940s often have a type of wiring referred to as “knob and tube”. This system began in the 1890s and was phased out. Many homes have had electrical updates, but knob and tube is still present and abandoned. Not a problem – but issues arise where modern wiring (Romex) is spliced into the old knob and tube that is till being utilized. In some cases, home owners may not be able to buy fire insurance or may be in a special risk class in these older homes.
In the case of older wiring and plumbing, a buyer may decide that the home is worth updating OR they wish to live with the issue. My belief is that it is important to know what you are buying and move forward (or not) as you see fit.
Olympia Real Estate Blog 