I get where you’re coming from—patching up ancient pipes feels like putting a bandaid on a leaky dam sometimes. I tried to “make do” with some old galvanized lines last year, thinking I was being resourceful (and saving landfill space), but after the third mysterious puddle under the sink, I was over it. Replacing sections was a pain upfront, but at least now I’m not stressing about hidden leaks or mold. Sometimes being stubborn just means more towels and less sleep...
Honestly, I get wanting to rip out all the old stuff, but sometimes it’s not all or nothing. I’ve had decent luck with lining pipes instead of full replacement—less mess, less cost, and you’re not tossing everything in the landfill. Sure, it’s not perfect for every situation, but if the pipes aren’t totally shot, it can buy you a few good years. Not saying patch jobs are always the answer, but sometimes a little creativity beats a total gut job. Just my two cents...
I get where you're coming from with lining pipes instead of ripping everything out. That approach can save a lot of headache, especially if you’re dealing with older homes where the plumbing is buried under layers of who-knows-what. Like you said:
if the pipes aren’t totally shot, it can buy you a few good years
I’ve looked into epoxy pipe lining myself when I started noticing the water pressure dropping off in the upstairs bathroom. The main thing that held me back was reading about potential issues with adhesion if there’s too much scale or corrosion inside the line. Did you have to do any special prep before lining, or did you just go with whatever the contractor recommended? I’m always a little wary about “quick fixes” if they might end up making things worse down the road.
Also, curious if you noticed any lingering taste or odor issues after lining. I’ve read mixed reviews—some folks say it’s fine, others mention a plastic-y smell for a while. Maybe that’s just certain products or maybe it’s water chemistry? Hard to tell from online reviews.
For what it’s worth, I ended up doing a partial copper repipe in my place because some sections were just too far gone (the old galvanized stuff was basically crumbling). But I do see the appeal of not having to tear up walls and floors everywhere. If there’s a way to extend the life of existing lines without creating more problems, I’m all for it.
Did your water pressure noticeably improve after lining? Or was it more about preventing leaks and future headaches?
Water pressure issues are the worst, especially when you’re just trying to take a shower and it feels like a drizzle. I actually debated pipe lining too, but chickened out after reading about the adhesion thing you mentioned. My neighbor went for it, though—she said her contractor did a pretty intense cleaning with some kind of abrasive before applying the liner, but she still got a faint plasticky taste for a couple weeks. It eventually faded, but she was pretty annoyed at first.
I ended up patching some sections with PEX instead of copper since my budget was tight (and honestly, I was intimidated by soldering). Not sure if it’s just me, but I feel like the water pressure is a bit better now, but not night-and-day different. Maybe the real win is just not worrying about leaks every time I hear a weird noise in the walls.
Did you notice any weird noises or pressure surges after your partial repipe? Sometimes I get this banging sound when I turn off the tap too fast... not sure if that’s normal or if I messed something up.
That banging noise when you shut off the tap sounds like what my plumber called “water hammer.” I had the same thing after swapping out some old galvanized for PEX in my laundry room. It freaked me out at first—thought I’d messed up the install or something was about to burst. Turns out, it’s pretty common, especially with newer, more flexible pipes like PEX. The plumber put in these little air chambers (I think they’re called hammer arrestors?) and it mostly stopped.
Funny you mention the plasticky taste—my cousin had that after a full PEX repipe, too. It faded after a month or so, but she was convinced her coffee tasted weird for ages. I didn’t notice much of a pressure boost either, but at least I’m not lying awake listening for drips anymore.
Did you have to mess with your pressure regulator at all? I’ve heard sometimes that can cause surges or drops if it’s set wrong, but I haven’t touched mine yet.