If you are going to re-pipe your older home, you will need to call out a plumber as well as an electrician. You will have you ascertain the piping does not interfere with electrical wiring. Also, a licensed electrician can double check the safety standards to keep you and your family as safe as possible.

Re-piping galvanized pipe has become popular because of the problems older homes have with the pipe work.

Galvanized piping is notorious for costly pipe leaks in homes. Galvanized piping replaced cast iron and lead in cold-water plumbing in the early 1900’s. It was thought to improve the water supply as cast iron and lead piping was found to be harmful. It did not take long for inspectors to realize that galvanized piping was not the answer to clean water. Also, it was found that galvanized pipe was not a long term answer and would eventually lead to more issues.

Galvanized piping rusts from the inside out. It builds up plaques that effect water pressure and eventually the pipe will form a hole from the rust. As water runs through the pipe, the plaques flake off and end up in your water. This is why sometimes tap water has a metallic taste.

Galvanized piping was replaced shorty after World War II by copper and plastic piping. Since galvanized piping has a life expectancy of about 70 years, some older homes still contain the older galvanized pipes.