Just found out from a county building code PDF that my 1950s house has the original galvanized plumbing that's supposedly rated for 50 years max

I read that galvanized pipes from that era typically start failing around the 50-60 year mark due to zinc corrosion buildup inside, which makes me wonder how my water pressure is still decent after 74 years, but also has me side-eyeing that slightly rusty water when I run the tap first thing in the morning - has anyone else pushed their luck with old galvanized lines or did you replace them before they blew?

3 comments

3 Comments

ross.river1mo ago

Jumped right into replacing mine last year after a slow leak turned into a full on pinhole spray in my basement. I was pushing 72 years on the original pipes and honestly the water pressure was still fine, but that rusty water in the morning was a big clue. When we cut the old pipes out, the inside was like a narrow straw coated in crusty mineral buildup. The water had basically been flowing through a tiny channel for years while the rest of the pipe rusted away. You're playing a dangerous game if you wait for a blowout, especially since those 1950s pipes tend to fail without much warning. I'd start saving for a repipe if I were you, even if your pressure feels okay right now.

troy_owens2mo ago

Huh, I always figured those old pipes would outlast everything. This makes me rethink that.

sagea882mo ago

Agree with you @troy_owens, those old pipes really do look tough but they have a ticking clock on them. I helped my buddy replace some cast iron in his 1920s house and the inside was just a crusty mess barely holding together. They last a good while but nothing beats modern materials for actual longevity.