I'm considering purchasing a fixer-upper from 1967 and I'm trying to figure out the costs for updates. I'm particularly curious about the piping throughout the house. While I believe it's still functioning fine, the copper or galvanized steel is nearly 60 years old. Since we plan to remodel the bathrooms and kitchen in the future and those walls will be opened up, should I replace the piping now? We're looking to make this our forever home, so I want to ensure everything is done right for the long haul.
3 Answers
If it’s galvanized piping, I’d say definitely replace it. For copper, you might want to inspect its condition first. I went ahead and replaced all the accessible piping in my house, and I’m glad I did. It’s really just cheap insurance for the future, especially if you're planning to tackle those remodels later on.
I also had a 1966 house with copper for water and galvanized for sewer. I opted to replace everything at once instead of facing potential issues later. It seemed like a smart move to prevent future headaches, and we added a hot water circulator which was a great investment.
On the supply side, if there’s no major issue with the existing pipes (and they haven’t been replaced with PEX), then I wouldn’t rush to replace them, especially since the quality of copper from that era is probably better than current stuff. However, if you see galvanized, be cautious because it could be worn out inside. Just steer clear of harsh chemical drain cleaners if that copper still looks good!