Hate to be the guy who rains on the copper parade, but I’ve seen some “fine” looking pipes turn into a disaster overnight. Age isn’t always just a number with plumbing—sometimes it’s a ticking time bomb, especially if you’ve got hard water or the house sat empty for a while. Inspectors can only see so much, and those pinhole leaks love to hide behind walls until they’re suddenly not so shy.
I get the pain of a full repipe (trust me, my phone rings off the hook when someone’s ceiling turns into Niagara Falls), but sometimes biting the bullet early saves a ton of headaches and drywall later. I’d at least budget for it sooner rather than later, especially if you start seeing even tiny signs like that greenish crust around fittings or weird metallic taste in the water. Waiting’s fine... until it’s not. Just my two cents—sometimes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” works, but sometimes it leaves you mopping up at 2am.
Had to laugh at the Niagara Falls ceiling bit—been there, mopped that. I totally get the “if it ain’t broke” crowd, but man, those pinhole leaks are sneaky. I had tenants once who thought their “dripping” was just condensation from a cold drink… until it started raining in the closet below.
Here’s what I keep wondering: is there any real way to predict which pipes will go first? Like, does the age of the house matter more than water quality, or is it just a roll of the dice? I’ve got two places built in the 70s—one’s been fine for years, the other needed new pipes after a single winter vacancy. Makes me wonder if sitting empty is worse than anything else.
Anyone else ever tried those water sensors under sinks and near hot water tanks? Worth it, or just another gadget collecting dust?
Pipe roulette is real. I’ve got a duplex from ‘72 that’s never had a drip, and a ‘78 ranch where I swear the pipes are made of Swiss cheese. I always figured water quality was the big factor, but after seeing pipes corrode in a place that sat empty for six months, I’m starting to think vacancy does more damage than we realize. Maybe it’s the lack of flow letting stuff settle and eat away at the metal? Who knows.
I’ve tried those water sensors under the hot water tank and kitchen sink. Honestly, they saved me once—caught a slow leak before it turned into a disaster. But I’ll admit, I forget to check the batteries half the time. Worth it if you’re not living there, though. Cheap insurance, especially if you’ve got tenants who don’t always notice the little stuff.
In my experience, you can’t really predict which pipe will go first. Sometimes it’s just dumb luck. I wish there was a magic formula, but for now, I just keep an eye out and cross my fingers.
I always figured water quality was the big factor, but after seeing pipes corrode in a place that sat empty for six months, I’m starting to think vacancy does more damage than we realize.
That’s a good point—stagnant water can definitely speed up corrosion. I’ve read that running water through the pipes every week or two helps, especially if you’re away. Also, swapping out old galvanized pipes for PEX or copper can save a ton of headaches down the line. I try to check for greenish stains or rust spots under sinks as an early warning. Water sensors are great, but yeah, remembering those batteries is a pain... maybe rechargeable ones would help?
I try to check for greenish stains or rust spots under sinks as an early warning.
- Good call on checking for stains. I’ve seen folks ignore those little signs and end up with a full-blown leak behind the wall.
- Stagnant water is a big deal—pipes corrode way faster when nothing’s moving. I’ve had to replace whole sections after just a few months of vacancy, especially with old galvanized.
- PEX is solid, but copper’s still my go-to if you can swing it. Less chance of rodents chewing through, and it holds up better in the long run.
- Water sensors are handy, but yeah, battery maintenance is a pain. I’ve started putting reminders in my phone calendar... not perfect, but better than nothing.
Curious—has anyone actually tried flushing their system every couple weeks during long absences? Wondering if it really makes a difference or if it’s just wishful thinking.
