When is it time to swap out old pipes?

I hear you on not wanting to fix what isn’t broken. I’ve seen folks rip out perfectly good copper, spend a fortune, and for what—just to sleep a little easier? Sometimes it’s just overkill. Unless you’re seeing green corrosion, pinhole leaks, or water pressure issues, I’d say keep an eye on it and save your cash for when there’s an actual problem.

That said, I’ve also been called in at 2am for a “surprise” burst pipe that could’ve been caught with a bit more caution... so there’s a balance. If your pipes are older than your favorite band and you’re remodeling anyway, maybe swap them out. Otherwise, I’d stick with regular checks and not lose sleep over it. No need to fix what ain’t broke—until it is, of course.

Had a job last winter where the homeowner figured their 60s copper was “still fine”—no leaks, no green, nothing obvious. Then one morning, they woke up to water pouring out of a kitchen light fixture. Turns out, the pipe had thinned out from the inside and finally gave up. Whole ceiling had to come down. Not fun.

I get not wanting to mess with what’s working, but sometimes you just can’t see the trouble brewing. If you’re already opening up walls for a remodel, swapping pipes is a lot cheaper than dealing with a flood later. Otherwise, yeah, regular checks and keeping an eye out for any weirdness is usually enough. Just don’t ignore those little signs—sometimes they’re the only warning you get.

Definitely agree with your point about not ignoring the little signs. That story’s a perfect example of how deceptive old copper can be—sometimes it looks fine on the outside, but like you said, it’s thinning from the inside and you’d never know until it fails.

If you’re already opening up walls for a remodel, swapping pipes is a lot cheaper than dealing with a flood later.

Couldn’t have said it better myself. I’ve seen folks try to save a few bucks by leaving old lines in place during a reno, only to end up spending way more on water damage repairs down the road. Even if there aren’t leaks or corrosion showing, pipes from the 60s are living on borrowed time.

Regular checks help, but they’re not foolproof—especially with copper that’s pushing 50 or 60 years. If you’re going to the trouble of opening walls anyway, it just makes sense to replace what you can reach. It’s one of those “pay now or pay a lot more later” situations. Sometimes peace of mind is worth the extra upfront cost.

Honestly, I used to think the same thing—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? But after seeing what a slow leak can do (mold, ruined floors, the whole nine yards), I’m way more cautious now. You’re spot on about copper pipes from the 60s being on borrowed time. Even if they look okay, you just never know what’s going on inside.

One thing I’d add: if you’re already tearing into walls for a remodel, it’s a golden opportunity to swap out not just old copper but also any questionable insulation or wiring while you’re at it. It’s less wasteful in the long run—less demo and fewer materials wasted if you have to go back in later for another issue. Plus, newer piping options like PEX are a lot more eco-friendly to install and can help with water conservation if you’re updating fixtures at the same time.

I get that the upfront cost can sting, especially if you’re trying to keep your reno budget under control. But honestly, water damage is brutal—not just for your wallet but for the environment too. All that wasted water and trashed building materials... it adds up. I’ve seen neighbors try to patch things up with spot repairs and “wait and see,” but it usually comes back to bite them.

If you’re on the fence, maybe just replace what’s exposed during the remodel and keep an eye on the rest. At least that way you’re not ripping out perfectly good drywall later for a preventable leak. Peace of mind is worth a lot, especially when it means less stress (and less waste) down the road.

I hear you on the “peace of mind” angle, but I’ve gotta ask—does swapping every old pipe really make sense if most of the system’s still holding up? I mean,

“if you’re already tearing into walls for a remodel, it’s a golden opportunity to swap out not just old copper but also any questionable insulation or wiring while you’re at it.”