Man, I’ve yanked out galvanized that looked like it belonged in a museum—still holding water, somehow. Other times, you touch it and it flakes apart like a stale croissant. I swear, half of it’s luck and the other half is whether the water was nasty or not. SharkBites are like duct tape for pipes... great in a pinch, but I wouldn’t trust ‘em behind drywall long-term.
Man, I’ve yanked out galvanized that looked like it belonged in a museum—still holding water, somehow. Other times, you touch it and it flakes apart like a stale croissant.
That’s spot on about the SharkBites—handy for emergencies, but I’d never bury one in a wall and sleep easy. I’ve seen some old galvanized last 60+ years, then right next to it, a section that’s paper-thin and crumbling. Water chemistry seems to be a huge factor. Curious if anyone’s actually tracked the lifespan difference between copper and PEX in real-world installs? I’ve read the theory, but field experience always tells a different story.
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the unpredictability. My place still has some old copper lines and a bit of PEX from a bathroom reno, and honestly, I’m always half-expecting something to spring a leak. The theory says copper should outlast PEX, but I’ve seen some pretty rough copper that looked like Swiss cheese after 30 years. Water chemistry really does seem to be the wild card. Makes me feel a little better knowing even the pros see weird stuff too...
Honestly, I’ve gutted houses with copper that looked pristine after 50+ years, and others where it was pitted and leaking at every joint. PEX is easier for quick fixes, but I’ve seen it get brittle if it’s hit by sunlight or just plain cheap stuff. Water chemistry’s a huge factor, like you said—hard water can trash both. At this point, I just expect surprises behind every wall. If you’re really worried, a pressure test isn’t a bad idea before things get ugly...
At this point, I just expect surprises behind every wall.
Ain’t that the truth. Every time I open up a wall in an older house, I feel like I’m rolling the dice—sometimes you get copper that looks brand new, sometimes it's green and crusty or has pinhole leaks everywhere. PEX is definitely easier for those quick repairs, but yeah, I've seen it get chalky and brittle if someone ran it through a sunroom or attic without UV protection. The cheap stuff just doesn’t hold up.
Water chemistry really does seem to be the wild card. I’ve worked in areas with super hard water and even brand new copper can start showing weird corrosion patterns in under a decade. On the flip side, I’ve seen 70s copper in soft water towns that you could probably reuse if you wanted.
Pressure testing’s a good call, though sometimes folks skip it because they think “if it ain’t leaking now, it’s fine.” But leaks can sneak up on you—especially after a remodel when things get moved around or stressed.
Curious if anyone’s actually switched over whole houses to PEX after a big leak? Or do most folks just patch what’s needed and cross their fingers? Sometimes I wonder if total replacement is worth the hassle or if you just end up trading one set of problems for another…