For now, I’m swapping out anything that leaks or looks sketchy and sticking with PEX where possible.
That’s a solid approach. Piecemeal upgrades are usually the only realistic way, especially with a mixed bag of old plumbing. I’ve dealt with enough galvanized to know it’s rarely worth patching—just ends up chasing leaks. PEX isn’t perfect, but it’s practical for most situations. Rodents are a wildcard, but honestly, copper’s price makes it tough to justify unless you’re already opening up walls. Sounds like you’re making smart calls as you go.
Had a similar debate with myself last year. I kept thinking, “maybe I can just patch this one spot,” but every time I fixed a leak in the old galvanized, another one popped up a few months later.
—that’s exactly how it felt. Switched to PEX for the worst runs and haven’t looked back. It’s not perfect, but for my budget, it’s been a lifesaver. Copper would’ve been nice, but yeah... not at those prices.“just ends up chasing leaks”
not at those prices.
That “just ends up chasing leaks” line really hits home. I’ve seen it with old galvanized—patch one spot, and another weak point shows up a month later. PEX is definitely easier on the wallet and way quicker to run, though I’ve heard some folks worry about UV or rodent damage. Still, for most indoor jobs, it seems like a solid compromise. Copper’s great, but yeah, the price is wild these days. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles and your budget.
Had a customer last year with ancient galvanized lines—every fix just bought them a few weeks before the next pinhole. Ended up swapping to PEX for most of the house. I get why folks worry about rodents, but honestly, I see way more leaks from old metal than chewed PEX. Sometimes you just gotta cut your losses and start fresh... especially when copper’s basically gold these days.
I get the appeal of just ripping out all the old stuff and going PEX, especially with how crazy copper prices are. But I’m still not totally sold on PEX as the “set it and forget it” solution everyone makes it out to be. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I’ve read enough horror stories about rodents chewing through it or weird taste issues that I can’t help but hesitate.
We bought our place last year and yeah, the galvanized pipes are a pain—pressure drops, rusty water, you name it. But I’ve been patching as I go, and honestly, it’s not been as catastrophic as some folks make it sound. Maybe I’m just buying time, but at least I know what I’m dealing with.
I guess my worry is trading one set of problems for another. Metal pipes might leak eventually, but at least they don’t get gnawed on by mice. And if you’re in an older house with questionable insulation or critter issues, that’s something to think about. Just my two cents—sometimes “start fresh” isn’t always the slam dunk it sounds like.
