I totally get where you’re coming from. I had a similar situation a couple years back—kept getting these weird brownish stains in the tub and the water pressure was all over the place. At first, I thought it was just the old shower head or maybe some gunk in the lines, but after swapping out fixtures and cleaning aerators, nothing really changed. Ended up calling a plumber friend who basically said, “Yeah, your galvanized pipes are probably corroded inside.” Not what I wanted to hear.
I tried to put it off for a while, just patching leaks as they popped up, but honestly, it started stressing me out. I’m pretty cautious about anything that could mess with water quality or safety, especially since I’ve got kids in the house. The idea of rusty water or even a pipe bursting while we’re away just wasn’t worth it. Eventually bit the bullet and had most of the old stuff swapped for PEX. Not cheap, but at least now I don’t have to worry about hidden leaks or weird water anymore.
Camera inspections are cool in theory, but yeah—they’re pricey and sometimes you still end up opening walls anyway. In hindsight, I wish I’d just replaced things sooner instead of dragging it out and dealing with all those little repairs. Sometimes “wait and see” just means more headaches down the line.
If you’re seeing rust or getting that metallic taste in your water, that’s usually my sign to stop messing around and get serious about replacing stuff. It’s not fun, but peace of mind is worth something too... especially when you’re trying to keep things safe and eco-friendly at home.
If you’re seeing rust or getting that metallic taste in your water, that’s usually my sign to stop messing around and get serious about replacing stuff.
That’s pretty much my rule of thumb too, but I’ll add—sometimes you don’t even get those obvious warning signs before something goes sideways. I’ve had tenants call about a “small leak” and by the time I get there, it’s a full-on mess behind the wall. Galvanized pipes are notorious for that. Even if you’re not seeing stains or tasting metal, if your place is pushing 50+ years and still has the original lines, it’s almost always a ticking time bomb.
I do think camera inspections have their place, especially if you’re trying to pinpoint a problem area without gutting the whole place. But yeah, they’re not cheap and sometimes you just end up confirming what you already suspected. I’ve found it’s usually more cost-effective in the long run to just budget for a full repipe if you’re seeing recurring issues. PEX is a solid choice—less invasive to install and seems to hold up well.
Curious—did you notice any difference in water bills after the swap? Sometimes those hidden leaks can really add up, but it’s easy to miss unless you’re tracking usage closely.
After we replaced our old pipes with PEX, I did see a drop in the water bill—nothing dramatic, but definitely noticeable over a few months. The big thing was just not stressing every time I heard a weird drip or saw a stain. I used to joke that our 60s-era plumbing was like playing whack-a-mole. Also, the water tasted cleaner, which was a nice bonus. I’m with you on the camera inspections being hit or miss... sometimes it feels like you’re just paying to confirm what you already know.
- Had a similar situation in one of my older rentals—constant little leaks, random water stains, tenants calling about “mystery drips.”
- Swapped out the old galvanized pipes for PEX about two years ago. Noticed fewer maintenance calls and yeah, a slight dip in the water bill over time.
- I hear you on camera inspections... sometimes they just confirm what you already suspect, and that’s about it.
- For me, the peace of mind alone was worth the upfront cost. No more worrying about a pipe bursting at 2am.
I’m right there with you on the peace of mind factor. Once those old galvanized pipes start acting up, it’s like playing whack-a-mole—fix one leak, another pops up somewhere else. I’ve found that even if the camera shows “just a little corrosion,” it’s usually a sign there’s more trouble brewing where you can’t see.
One thing I’ve noticed after switching to PEX is how much quieter the plumbing is—no more weird banging or rattling when someone flushes upstairs. Did you run into any issues with insurance or permits during your swap? I had to jump through a few hoops with the city, but in hindsight, it was worth it just to stop getting those late-night calls about water in the basement.
Curious if anyone’s tried copper instead of PEX lately? I know prices have gone up, but some folks still swear by it for longevity. For me, though, not having to worry about rust and buildup has been a game changer.
