That metallic taste is the worst, right? I keep wondering if I’m drinking more iron than coffee some days. Did you do a full repipe or just swap out the worst sections? I’m always nervous about what’s hiding behind the walls…
That metallic taste is honestly the worst—makes you wonder what’s actually in the water, right? I totally get being nervous about what’s behind the walls. Sometimes you open things up and it’s way more gnarly than you expected, but other times it’s not as bad as you think.
A lot of folks just swap out the worst sections at first, especially if the budget’s tight. But if you’re already seeing rust or tasting metal, there’s a good chance the rest isn’t far behind. I’ve seen people do a patch job and then end up chasing leaks for months... not fun. Still, a full repipe can be a big project, so I get wanting to hold off.
If you do end up opening up a wall, just be careful—sometimes there’s old insulation or even wiring that’s not up to code. Better safe than sorry, even if it takes a bit longer.
I hear you on the patch jobs turning into a never-ending project—been there, done that. When we moved in, I figured I’d just replace the worst stretch under the kitchen sink, but then a year later, the bathroom line started leaking too. It’s like playing whack-a-mole with old pipes.
Here’s how I try to break it down: First, I check for visible rust or corrosion at any exposed joints. Then I look for water pressure drops or weird smells/tastes (like that metallic thing you mentioned). If two or more of those pop up, I start budgeting for a bigger replacement, even if it’s just in phases.
One thing I’m still not sure about is whether it’s better to do whole-house PEX if you’re already opening up walls, or just stick with copper for the sections you can see are bad. Anyone have thoughts on how to weigh cost vs. long-term reliability? Sometimes it feels like you’re just gambling either way...
Honestly, patching old pipes is just delaying the inevitable. Once you start seeing multiple leaks or corrosion, it’s usually a sign the whole system’s on borrowed time. I lean toward PEX for full replacements—less labor, fewer joints to fail, and it handles freezing better than copper. Copper’s great, but prices are wild and it’s not immune to pinhole leaks, especially with older water systems. If you’re already opening walls, might as well future-proof it instead of chasing leaks every year.
That’s a really solid point about patching just being a temporary fix. I’ve been going back and forth on this exact issue since moving in last year. We had one leak, then another, and it’s hard not to feel like you’re just playing whack-a-mole. The idea of ripping out all the old copper and putting in PEX is intimidating, though. I keep worrying about whether it’ll actually last as long as people say, or if there’s some downside I’m missing.
Still, your argument about future-proofing makes sense, especially if you’re already opening up walls. It’s just tough to swallow the upfront cost, but I guess constantly patching isn’t cheap either. I appreciate hearing from someone who’s actually made the switch—it helps to know it’s not just marketing hype. Maybe it’s time to stop being so cautious and just get it done before things get worse...
