I get where you’re coming from—sometimes you fix what isn’t broken and just create more work. But honestly, I’ve seen 60-year-old copper that’s still pristine, and I’ve also seen stuff fail at 20. If you’ve got good pressure, no green spots or corrosion, and the water test checks out, I’d leave it alone too. Unless you’re already gutting the room, chasing “what ifs” can turn into a money pit real fast.
Title: How long do pipes really last under pressure?
I've run into both ends of this too. You open a wall and the copper looks brand new, or you find pinhole leaks in a house from the '90s. Sometimes I think it depends more on the water quality than the age. If the pressure's good and you don't see any crusty green stuff, I usually leave it. But yeah, if you're already tearing things up, it's tempting to just swap it all and not worry about it for another few decades... but that can snowball fast. Guess it comes down to risk tolerance (and how much cash you want to burn).
I get the temptation to just leave pipes alone if they look fine, but honestly, I've seen too many "surprise" leaks in homes that looked perfect on the outside. Water chemistry is a huge factor, but pressure spikes and even minor electrolysis can eat away at copper from the inside out. Personally, if I'm already opening walls, I swap out anything older than 30 years—especially if it's original to the house. It’s a pain now, but way less hassle than dealing with a burst pipe behind a finished wall down the road. Sometimes peace of mind is worth the extra cost.
Totally agree—once you’ve got the walls open, it’s just not worth gambling on old copper. I’ve seen “good” pipes crumble in my hands after decades of hard water. Honestly, if you’re remodeling, it’s the perfect time to upgrade to something more sustainable like PEX or even recycled copper. The upfront cost stings, but you’ll sleep better not worrying about hidden leaks down the road.
I totally get where you’re coming from—there’s something about seeing “good” pipes just fall apart that really sticks with you. I’ve had clients who were shocked when their “solid” copper turned out to be anything but. That said, I do wonder sometimes if we’re a little too quick to rip everything out. Is there ever a scenario where you’d keep the old copper, maybe if it’s in great shape and the water quality’s decent? Or is it just not worth the risk?
“if you’re remodeling, it’s the perfect time to upgrade to something more sustainable like PEX or even recycled copper.”
Love this mindset. Remodeling is such a rare chance to future-proof your space—why not make choices that’ll last? Plus, new piping can open up design possibilities too... ever thought about how moving plumbing can totally change a kitchen or bath layout? Sometimes those “hidden” upgrades are what make a space feel fresh and functional for years. It’s not just about what you see, but what you don’t have to worry about later.