So, I've got this old house, built in the late 60s, and lately I've been noticing these annoying little leaks popping up in the basement. They're all coming from the copper plumbing, which I guess is original to the house. I've patched a couple spots temporarily with some plumber's tape, but honestly, that's just a band-aid fix and it's starting to feel like whack-a-mole down there, lol.
I'm thinking maybe it's time to bite the bullet and do something more permanent. But I'm not sure if I should just replace sections of pipe as they leak or if it's smarter to redo the whole system at once. Also, is this something I could realistically DIY, or am I better off calling in a pro? I'm pretty handy, but plumbing isn't exactly my specialty, you know?
If anyone's dealt with something similar, I'd love to hear how you handled it.
- Given the age of your pipes (late 60s copper), you're probably dealing with corrosion from the inside out. Temporary fixes like tape won't hold long-term.
- Replacing sections as they leak can work short-term, but it's usually a losing battle. Eventually, you'll end up redoing it all anyway.
- DIY is doable if you're comfortable soldering and have time to spare, but full repipes can get complicated fast, especially in tight spaces.
Have you checked your water chemistry yet? Acidic water can speed up copper corrosion significantly...might be worth looking into before deciding your next move.
