"Old galvanized pipes are notorious for internal corrosion, narrowing the pipe diameter over time."
Yeah, galvanized pipes can be trouble, but honestly, I've seen more issues lately with those braided supply lines you mentioned. Had a job last month where the homeowner swore up and down it was the main line pressure. Turned out the braided hose under their kitchen sink had collapsed internally—looked perfectly fine from the outside. Sneaky stuff, and easy to overlook. I'd definitely double-check those before ripping out any pipes or calling city water.
Galvanized pipes definitely have their issues, but honestly, I've found that sometimes the problem isn't even the pipes or hoses themselves—it's the valves. Had a call a few months back where the homeowner was convinced their entire plumbing system was shot because the water pressure had dropped dramatically throughout the house. They'd already had someone else out who suggested replacing all their galvanized piping, which would've cost them thousands.
When I took a closer look, though, it turned out to be something way simpler: the main shut-off valve at the house entry point had partially failed internally. From outside it looked fine—no leaks, no obvious corrosion—but inside, the gate mechanism had broken and was restricting flow. Swapped out that valve, and their pressure jumped right back up to normal levels.
I'm not saying galvanized pipes aren't problematic—they definitely corrode internally over time and can cause serious headaches—but before anyone jumps into a major repiping project, it's worth checking those valves first. Especially if you're noticing pressure drops throughout your entire home rather than just one fixture or area. Valves are sneaky culprits because they rarely show external signs of trouble until they're really far gone.
Also, another thing I've noticed is that sometimes homeowners install those braided lines incorrectly—twisting or kinking them during installation—which can accelerate internal damage or collapse. They're great when installed properly, but if they're twisted even slightly during tightening, you might be setting yourself up for trouble down the road.
Bottom line: always start with the simplest checks first—valves, supply lines, aerators—before diving into major plumbing surgery. It's saved me (and my customers) a ton of unnecessary hassle and expense over the years...
Had a similar issue at my place a while back—thought the pipes were toast, but turned out to be the pressure regulator valve outside. It looked perfectly fine from the outside, just like yours, but internally it was shot and choking off flow. Replaced that sucker, and problem solved. Definitely agree it's worth checking valves first before diving into major pipe replacement...saved me a ton of hassle and cash.
"Definitely agree it's worth checking valves first before diving into major pipe replacement...saved me a ton of hassle and cash."
Good call on checking the valves first, that's usually my go-to as well. But honestly, in my experience, it's not always the regulator valve that's the culprit. I've seen plenty of cases where homeowners assume it's just a valve issue because it's cheaper and easier to fix, only to find out later that the pipes themselves were partially clogged or corroded internally. Especially if you're in an older home or an area with hard water, mineral buildup can really sneak up on you.
Had a client a few months back who swore up and down it was the regulator valve because his neighbor had the exact same issue. We replaced it, pressure improved slightly, but still wasn't great. Ended up scoping the pipes and found significant corrosion inside the galvanized lines. He wasn't thrilled about the extra expense, but once we replaced those pipes, his water pressure was night-and-day better.
Not saying valves aren't a common issue—they definitely are—but just don't rule out pipe issues entirely based on one experience. Every plumbing system has its quirks, and sometimes the obvious fix isn't always the right one. If you're still having trouble after checking valves, might be worth getting a camera inspection done before you start tearing things apart. Could save you some headaches down the line.
Good points all around. Valves are definitely the first thing I check too, but I've run into a few situations where the aerators on faucets were actually the sneaky culprits—especially in areas with mineral-heavy water. Had a customer once who was convinced it was a major pipe issue, but after cleaning out the aerators, pressure jumped right back up. Ever tried checking those before diving deeper into pipes or valves?
