How Old is My Plumbing System?

When considering the different forms of plumbing repairs, it’s important to know the age of your pipes. If your home is old and your plumbing system is similarly, outdated, you could require a more extensive process to get your pipes functioning properly, such as trenchless sewer replacements. Some pipe materials are known to fail if not intended to — for instance, cast iron and Orangeburg pipes have both been known to corrode and cause obstructions, pipe collapses, and dangerous plumbing situations. Any plumbing system is bound to have problems if it’s too old and the materials are near the end of their lifespan.

But how do you determine the age of your plumbing system and how close you are to needing replacement work done? This information could be pivotal for a person looking to buy a new home or a current homeowner looking for professional plumbing assistance. How can you tell how old your system is?

There are a number of ways to tell, just from looking at your exposed pipes, how old they are and how close you are to needing replacement. Jim and Dave, owners of the Twin Plumbers and also two professional plumbers themselves, have put together a video to show you how:

So, as we saw in the video, there are three main determining factors that show your pipes may be near their deadline (or even overdue) so that you can make educated decisions about your plumbing repairs and services:

1. Galvanized Material– Since galvanized seals only have a lifespan of about 30 to 40 years, they tend to cause issues in older homes. When you start to see rust and calcification marks on the elbow.
2. Cast Iron– Check your non-pressurized pipes, which you’ll find beneath your sink connecting to the drain. If you notice these are made of cast iron metal, know that this material typically should only be in use for 30 to 40 years. After that point, corrosion, blockages, and even collapses tend to happen.
3. No Copper Plumbing– At the front of your home, you should be able to find copper piping like the pipes shown in the video. Copper piping is a sturdy and reliable material — we recommend either this or PEX!

We hope this helps you with your plumbing repairs. As always, thanks for reading!