Dealing with old pipes during a bathroom overhaul - worth replacing or just patching up?

I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes I wonder if we’re a bit too quick to rip everything out. I mean, if the copper’s solid and there’s no corrosion or weird smells, is it always necessary? I replaced mine because of pinhole leaks, but my neighbor’s pipes are 40 years old and still kicking. Maybe it depends on what you find once the walls are open?

I hear you - my dad’s house still has the original copper from the ‘70s, and it’s never given him grief. Meanwhile, my place sprung a leak after just 20 years. Sometimes I think it’s a bit of a gamble... depends on your luck and what you find behind those walls.

That’s the thing - sometimes those old copper lines are like tanks, and other times you get a lemon. I’ve opened up walls in houses from the ‘60s where the copper looked brand new, barely any corrosion. Then you get newer stuff with pinhole leaks or weird green buildup. I guess it depends on water chemistry, how well things were grounded, maybe even the quality of copper back then versus now.

When I redid my bathroom, I figured since everything was open anyway, I’d just swap out the old pipes for PEX. It wasn’t leaking yet, but honestly, I didn’t want to gamble and have to rip out fresh tile down the road. It’s not always necessary if your pipes look solid, but if you’re already gutting things... sometimes it’s worth the peace of mind. That said, I know folks who patch and keep rolling for decades without issues. Just comes down to how much risk you’re willing to live with - and maybe a little bit of luck too.

- If you’ve already got the walls open, I’d just swap out the old pipes. Like you said, it’s not always “necessary,” but ripping up new tile later sounds like a nightmare.
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“sometimes those old copper lines are like tanks, and other times you get a lemon.”

100% - my neighbor’s place had copper from the ‘70s that looked fine, but mine had green gunk and pinholes everywhere.
- PEX is way easier to work with if you’re new to this stuff. Less joints to mess up, too.
- If budget’s tight and the copper looks solid, maybe patch. But if you’re already spending on a reno, why risk it?

Dealing With Old Pipes During A Bathroom Overhaul - Worth Replacing Or Just Patching Up?

“if you’re already spending on a reno, why risk it?”

I get where you’re coming from, but I’d actually push back a little on the “just replace everything” approach. If your copper’s in good shape - no green corrosion, no weird smells or leaks, and solid joints - it can last decades more. I’ve seen houses from the ‘60s where the copper is basically pristine. Sometimes patching makes sense, especially if you’re not touching every wall.

- Opening up every wall just to chase pipes can make a small job way bigger (and pricier).
- If you’re careful with your inspection (like really look for pinholes or pitting), you might be fine with just replacing sections that look sketchy.
- PEX is great, but if your water’s hard or you’ve got tight bends, sometimes copper still wins out.

I guess it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to take. For me, I’d rather save my budget for stuff I actually see - like tile or fixtures - unless the pipes are obviously toast. Different strokes...