When is it time to swap out old pipes?

Had a tenant once who swore the pipes were “haunted” because of weird noises - turns out it was just one rusty elbow joint making all the racket. Ended up replacing a two-foot section instead of tearing up the whole place. Anyone else ever had luck just patching things up instead of going full replacement?

Ended up replacing a two-foot section instead of tearing up the whole place.

That’s pretty much my approach too - if it ain’t leaking everywhere, I’m not gutting the walls. Had a “mystery drip” last winter, turned out to be one tiny pinhole. Bit of pipe, some tape, problem solved. Anyone else get nervous about patch jobs holding up long-term though? Sometimes I wonder if I’m just kicking the can down the road...

Anyone else get nervous about patch jobs holding up long-term though? Sometimes I wonder if I’m just kicking the can down the road...

- Same boat here. If I can fix a section and keep the rest intact, that’s my default. Full replacements cost way too much unless it’s an obvious disaster.
- Honestly, patching works… until it doesn’t. Had a spot under my kitchen sink that I “fixed” twice before finally replacing about four feet of pipe. In hindsight, should’ve just swapped more out the first time.
- My worry is when you start seeing multiple pinholes over a year or two - then it’s probably time to bite the bullet and do a bigger job.
- Tape and clamps are fine for emergencies or small leaks, but if you’re patching the same run more than once, it’s probably trying to tell you something.
- Not sure about everyone else, but my old copper pipes are pushing 50 years. At some point, I know I’ll have to do a bigger replacement… but for now, if it ain’t broke (or leaking), I’m leaving it alone.

I get nervous too sometimes, but with prices these days? Gotta pick your battles.

Honestly, I always wonder if patching is just putting lipstick on a pig. But then again, I’ve had patches last way longer than I expected - like, years. Anyone else ever get that “one more leak and I’m done” feeling, then just keep patching anyway? At some point, the pipes win, right?

I get where you’re coming from - patching can feel like a never-ending cycle. But honestly, if your patches are holding for years, you’re doing something right. I’ve had stretches where I swore the next leak would be the last, then just kept going because, well, it worked. Eventually, though, if you’re patching the same section over and over, it’s probably time to bite the bullet and swap out that run. Pipes do win sometimes, but you can get a lot of mileage out of good patches before surrendering.