Honestly, unless you’re seeing green corrosion, pinhole leaks, or major pressure drops, 60s copper can last a long time—especially if your water isn’t super acidic. I get the hesitation with PEX; rodents are a legit concern in some areas. Swapping out just the bad sections is pretty common. Just keep an eye on joints and anywhere the pipe’s exposed to air or moisture... that’s usually where problems start. No need to gut everything if it’s still solid.
Yeah, spot on about not gutting everything if the copper’s still holding up. A few things I’d add from what I’ve seen in the field:
- Water chemistry is huge. Even if you don’t have acidic water, high chlorine can eat away at copper over decades. If you’re on city water, might be worth checking a recent water quality report.
- Joints and elbows are always the first to go, especially if they weren’t cleaned properly before soldering. I’ve seen pipes from the 50s with perfect straight runs but every joint is green and crusty.
- PEX is great for quick repairs, but yeah, rodents can be a nightmare. I’ve pulled out chewed PEX in crawlspaces more than once... If you go that route, try to keep it off the ground and out of reach where possible.
- One thing people forget: old copper can get brittle. If you’re doing any work nearby (like demo or drilling), be careful not to knock or stress it—sometimes that’s all it takes for a pinhole to show up.
Swapping sections as needed makes sense unless you’re already opening up big walls or planning a reno anyway. No need to fix what isn’t broken, but definitely keep an eye out for those early warning signs.
That’s a good point about the joints—mine are definitely the weak spots too. I’ve always wondered, though, how much does age really matter if you’re not seeing leaks or corrosion? My house is pushing 60 years and the copper looks fine in most places, but I keep hearing mixed things about “lifespan.” Is it just a wait-and-see game, or do folks actually swap pipes just based on age?
“Is it just a wait-and-see game, or do folks actually swap pipes just based on age?”
Honestly, most people don’t rip out copper just because it’s old, especially if there’s no visible corrosion or leaks. I’ve seen 70-year-old copper still going strong, but I’ve also had to patch up 30-year-old lines that were pitted and leaking everywhere. It’s not always about the calendar.
One thing I’d check is water quality—high acidity or minerals can eat pipes from the inside out, even if the outside looks fine. Ever cut out a section and peeked inside? Sometimes you’ll find green gunk or pinhole leaks starting where you least expect. Any weird taste or discoloration in your water lately? That can be an early sign things are going south.
Curious if you’ve ever had to deal with low water pressure or random debris in your faucets? That’s usually when folks start thinking about a full swap, even if the pipes look okay at first glance.
