I hear you on not gutting the whole place unless it’s a total disaster. I had a plumber try to sell me on a full repipe just because my kitchen faucet was spitting out brown water—turned out it was just one gnarly elbow joint. Swapped that, problem solved. Curious though, has anyone actually had a patch job go bad later? Like, did the rust just move down the line or did it hold up?
When is it time to swap out old pipes?
Yeah, I’ve been there—patch jobs can be a gamble, but sometimes they’re all you need. Here’s what I’ve seen over the years:
- If it’s just one bad joint or section, a targeted fix usually holds up fine. I’ve had a couple of those last for years without any new issues cropping up nearby.
- That said, if you’re seeing rust or sediment in multiple spots, or if the pipes are ancient (think original to a 60s house), patching might just buy you time before the next headache.
- Had one place where we kept chasing leaks every six months. Ended up biting the bullet and doing a full repipe—should’ve done it sooner, honestly.
- Sometimes, plumbers push for the big job because it’s easier for them (and more profitable). Doesn’t always mean it’s necessary.
If you’re not seeing recurring problems, I’d say you’re probably good for now. Just keep an eye out for pressure drops or new discoloration. Pipes can surprise you, but no need to rip everything out unless you’re seeing a pattern.
Patching can feel like playing whack-a-mole, but honestly, you nailed it—sometimes that’s all you need. I’ve seen folks panic and rip out a whole system over one crusty elbow, and it’s just not always necessary.
- If you’re not seeing a parade of leaks or weird water color, you’re probably fine to keep patching. Pipes are stubborn little things; they’ll let you know when they’re really done.
- The “original 60s” pipe thing hits home. My uncle’s house is basically a museum for galvanized pipe failures. He patched for years, then finally caved after the third ceiling stain. Didn’t regret waiting, though—got his money’s worth.
- Plumbers do love a full repipe job (who wouldn’t?), but yeah, sometimes it’s just overkill. I’ve seen more than one upsell that made me raise an eyebrow.
- Pressure drops or sudden brown water are the big red flags. Otherwise, if it ain’t broke... well, you know how it goes.
Honestly, your approach sounds pretty level-headed. Pipes don’t last forever, but they don’t all go bad at once either—unless you’re really unlucky or living in a horror movie basement. Keep an eye on things and don’t let anyone scare you into a full overhaul unless the evidence is stacking up. Sometimes those old pipes just want to hang in there a little longer.
Had a customer with 70s copper that looked like it’d seen better days, but only one pinhole in ten years. We patched it and it’s still holding up. Full repipes are sometimes just money down the drain if you’re not seeing real issues.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen those old copper lines go from “just one pinhole” to a bunch of leaks in a short time. Sometimes it’s like once the first one pops, the rest aren’t far behind. You said:
Full repipes are sometimes just money down the drain if you’re not seeing real issues.
Thing is, you don’t always see the issues until it’s too late. Had a job last year—house built in ‘74, only had one leak in 15 years. Patched it, then three months later, two more leaks showed up in different spots. Ended up doing a full repipe anyway, and the customer wished they’d just done it all at once instead of dealing with water damage.
I’m not saying every old pipe needs to go, but sometimes patching is just buying time. Depends on the water quality and how much hassle you wanna risk down the line. Just my two cents.
