I have to ask myself: do I really want to know what’s lurking back there, or am I better off leaving well enough alone?
- If you’ve got galvanized or old copper, I’d lean toward replacing while you’re in there. It’s a pain to go back later.
- That said, I’ve left 70s copper alone in one bathroom reno and it’s still fine 8 years later. Sometimes you just gotta weigh the risk vs. budget.
- Regret usually comes when you see a leak after everything’s buttoned up... but honestly, not every old pipe is a ticking time bomb.
Ever run into any weird DIY “fixes” behind your walls? Found a garden hose used as a drain once—still can’t believe it worked.
I’ve definitely seen my share of “creative” plumbing behind the walls—flexible vinyl tubing for a hot water line once, and the classic duct-tape-over-pinholes trick. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if people just used whatever was in the garage.
I get what you’re saying about 70s copper. I’ve left some in place too, and it’s still holding up, but I always get that nagging feeling when I close up the wall. Like, is this the time it’s gonna fail? Hard to say if it’s paranoia or just experience talking.
Ever notice how some houses have pipes that look ancient but are totally fine, while others have newer stuff that’s already corroded? Makes me wonder how much is about water quality or maybe even how the house was originally plumbed. Anyone ever tested their water for corrosiveness before deciding whether to replace old pipes, or is that just overkill?