I totally get what you mean about the inspectors—mine flagged a random shutoff valve in the crawlspace, but ignored a rusty old pipe in plain sight. I’m still figuring out what’s actually important and what’s just “old house charm.” Has anyone here actually replaced all their old pipes, or do most folks just patch things up as they go?
I’ve wondered the same thing, honestly. It’s wild what inspectors will focus on—sometimes I think they just pick whatever’s easiest to write up. I’ve only replaced sections of pipe when there was an obvious leak or corrosion, but never the whole system. Part of me worries about all that old metal lurking behind the walls, but then again, ripping everything out seems wasteful if it’s still working. Does anyone actually do a full replacement unless there’s a major problem? Or is it just one of those “if it ain’t broke” situations?
I’ve had the same debate with myself, especially in some of my older rentals. Honestly, I don’t know anyone who does a full replacement unless there’s a history of leaks or the inspector specifically calls it out. Most plumbers I’ve talked to say if the pipes aren’t leaking and water pressure’s good, you’re probably fine. That said, I did have one place where we kept chasing small leaks—ended up costing more in the long run than just biting the bullet and re-piping. It’s a judgment call, but I lean toward “if it ain’t broke,” unless you’re seeing signs of trouble.
Funny, I used to be in the “if it ain’t broke” camp too, until I had a pipe burst behind a wall at 2am. Nothing like an indoor waterfall to change your mind about proactive plumbing. Now I just check for corrosion and weird smells, but yeah, I get the hesitation—full replacements aren’t cheap.
Yeah, that’s a nightmare scenario. I’ve been in the “wait and see” camp too, but hearing stories like yours makes me wonder if I’m pushing my luck. How often do you actually check for corrosion? I’m always worried I’ll miss something obvious and end up with a mess.
