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?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_owens1mo ago

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

sagea881mo 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.