Are you looking for a home in a historical place in Chicago? In this scenario, you must know about the local conditions affecting the home’s infrastructure. According to the United States Census Bureau, around 74% of Chicago homes were old and built before 1970.

However, while older homes in Chicago have charm and attraction, they also present unique challenges for the homeowners. Therefore, understanding the common problems with older homes is crucial if you want to buy one.

Various home inspection companies in Chicago help identify hidden problems in older homes, but The BrickKicker, is the most reliable and affordable. The problems that a home inspector finds in the home inspection procedure, such as lead paint, outdated electrical systems, plumbing systems, and pest issues, play an effective role in the home’s infrastructure.

In this blog, we will uncover the hidden problems that you might face in older homes. Understanding the highlighted problems will help you in the home-buying process and ensure you can provide a healthy home for your family.

Common Problems in Older Homes

These are common problems found in the inspection procedure in the old homes of Chicago.

Foundation Problems

Foundation problems are a common concern for older homes, especially in Chicago, due to the soil composition and weather conditions that can exacerbate these issues. Over time, the natural shifting of clay and high moisture levels due to the rain, snow, and freezing thaw cycle significantly affect the home’s structure. Moreover, with the age of the home and the stress of environmental factors, the foundation cracks.

Signs of Foundation Problems

These are the various signs that indicate the foundation is getting cracks.

Slope in the floor
Cracks in the walls
Not properly closed windows and doors
Gaps between walls and floors or ceiling

Outdated Electrical System

Older homes have an outdated electrical system that cannot meet current requirements. They are designed to handle a few appliances compared to the latest household items. Some homes still have original wiring, like an aluminum conductor, to turn on the appliances. This wiring is not only outdated but also has dangerous fire hazards.

Further, the older homes do not have a proper ground system and installed sufficient electrical panels. Therefore, they consume more energy, resulting in high electricity bills. In short, these outdated electrical systems provide insufficient power to the current household appliances and follow fewer safety hazards. In this scenario, when you do not address these issues at an early stage, you can face major problems in the future.

Plumbing system

The other common problem in the older homes in Chicago is their plumbing system. The plumbing system plays a sufficient role in the well-being of the home. The older homes usually have iron pipes. Over time, the water pipes get corroded and cracked, resulting in water leakage. Water leakage wastes too much water and consumes more electrical energy to fill the water tank. When the water pipes crack, the water seeps into the walls, and weakens a home’s infrastructure. Therefore, getting a home inspection from a certified home inspection company is necessary when you want to purchase a home.

HVAC Issues

Maintaining the indoor temperature plays a key role in well-being and is effective for your family’s health. However, older homes that are in high demand in the Chicago real estate market have inefficient heating and cooling systems. The lack of care and the older HVAC system cause the indoor temperature to not be maintained for various reasons, such as dusty and clogged air filters, cracks in the ducts, and consuming more energy fans.

Roof and gutter

Older homes in Chicago frequently have aging roofs and gutters that do not meet current requirements. According to O’Hare, rainfall has increased by 42% in the last 30 years. Therefore, in older homes, the roof suffers from many issues, such as cracks, poor drainage, and missing shingles. In this way, the efficiency of a roof is greatly affected, and it does not bear the current rainfall effect. If these problems cannot be addressed promptly, they can become major problems.

These are some common issues that are found in the aging roof:

Leakage

Due to the weather effect for the last several years, the roof has lost its efficiency, resulting in cracking. Water seeps through cracks and damages a home’s infrastructure.

Clogged Gutters

Due to a lack of maintenance and care, the gutter resists water and does not provide a smooth path for the drain. In this scenario, the water seeps into the walls, damaging the home’s structure.

Basement and crawl places

The basement and crawl spaces are essential home parts that require proper ventilation. However, with the passage of time and less care, they provide an ideal environment for the growth of different fungi. Mold is a common fungus produced in humid environments. It is a silent killer that causes different health issues, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, continuous headaches, and skin allergies.

Final Words

These are the common problems with older homes in Chicago that require the special attention of homeowners. Understanding these highlighted issues is compulsory when investing your hard-earned money in these houses. In this scenario, you can get assistance from the certified home inspection company, The Brickkicker. They have a professional and experienced staff to highlight all the hidden problems that can lead to significant problems in the future. So, if you want to live a healthy life and understand the deep knowledge of a home, you need to take a home inspection in the home-buying process.

Common Problems Found in Older Homes in Chicago