I hear you on the paranoia—nothing like a 3am leak to make you second-guess every shortcut. I’ve tried salvaged copper before, and even when it looked fine, I ended up with pinhole leaks a year later. Sometimes the inside’s corroded even if the outside looks perfect. I’d say if you’re not 100% sure where it came from or how it was used, new pipe is worth the peace of mind. That said, I know some folks swear by reusing old stuff... but my nerves can’t handle another midnight flood.
- Totally get the anxiety about leaks—my first week in this place, I woke up to a dripping ceiling.
- I’ve been debating new vs. salvaged pipe too. The idea of saving money is tempting, but I don’t want to gamble with hidden corrosion either.
- Did you notice any big difference in water pressure or taste after switching to all new pipes? Trying to decide if it’s worth the upgrade everywhere, or just for the worst sections.
The idea of saving money is tempting, but I don’t want to gamble with hidden corrosion either.
Honestly, I’ve seen folks regret going with salvaged pipe more than once—corrosion can be sneaky. When I swapped out old galvanized for new copper in my last place, the water pressure jumped and the weird metallic taste vanished. Not saying you need to gut everything, but even just replacing the worst stretches made a noticeable difference for me. Sometimes peace of mind is worth a little extra up front.
I get the temptation to save a few bucks, but I’ve seen what happens when “hidden corrosion” comes back to bite you.
—that’s no joke. If you’re set on reusing anything, at least do a thorough inspection and maybe pressure test the lines. Personally, I’d rather spend a bit more up front than deal with leaks behind the wall later. Swapping out the worst sections first is a solid move, especially if you’re not ready for a full overhaul. Just my two cents from crawling around too many musty crawlspaces...corrosion can be sneaky
Corrosion really is one of those things you don’t notice until it’s a much bigger problem. I’ve had tenants call about “just a little drip” that turned out to be a corroded pipe ready to burst. I get wanting to save where you can, but I always ask myself—what’s the cost if I have to open up a finished wall later? Sometimes it’s worth biting the bullet and replacing more than you think you need to. Have you looked into PEX as an option? It’s not perfect, but it’s saved me some headaches compared to old copper.