The Seattle Homeowner’s Guide to Repiping: When to Worry About Your Galvanized Pipes
Living in a pre-1970 Seattle home? Learn the signs of galvanized pipe failure, the cost of PEX repiping, and why "patching" leaks is costing you more in the long run.
If you live in West Seattle—or anywhere in the greater Puget Sound area—chances are you live in a home with history. We love our Craftsman bungalows and mid-century modern ramblers. But while the architecture stands the test of time, the plumbing often doesn’t.
If your home was built before 1970 and hasn’t been updated, there is a very high probability you are running water through galvanized steel pipes.
For decades, galvanized steel was the standard. It’s strong and durable. But like anything made of steel and constantly exposed to water, it has a fatal flaw: Rust.
At Xplore Plumbing, we believe in educating our neighbors, not scaring them. But the reality is that galvanized piping has a lifespan of about 40–50 years. If your home was built in 1960, your pipes are now over 60 years old. They are living on borrowed time.
In this guide, we’re going to look at the "Technical" side of repiping. We’ll cover the hidden signs of failure, why spot-fixing leaks is a bad financial move, and why we use PEX-A for surgical, minimally invasive replacements.
The Hidden Enemy: Tuberculation
Most homeowners think that if they don't see water on the floor, their pipes are fine. This is a dangerous misconception.
Galvanized pipes rarely burst open like a balloon. Instead, they rust from the inside out. This process is called tuberculation. As the zinc coating on the inside of the pipe wears away, iron oxide (rust) begins to build up in layers.
Think of it like a clogged artery. The pipe looks solid on the outside, but the internal diameter is shrinking every year.
The 3 Signs Your Pipes Are Failing:
1. Low Water Pressure (The Shower Test) Do you have to run around in the shower to get wet? Does the water pressure drop significantly if someone flushes a toilet or turns on the sink? This isn't usually an issue with the City of Seattle's water supply; it’s a friction issue inside your home. The rust buildup is choking the flow of water.
2. Discolored Water (The Vacation Test) If you go away for a weekend and turn on the tap when you get back, is the water brown or rust-colored for a few seconds? That is rust sitting in your pipes that has been disturbed. It’s a clear sign that the interior wall of the pipe is disintegrating.
3. The "Pinhole" Leak This is the most frustrating stage. You find a small wet spot on the drywall. You pay a plumber to fix it. Two months later, another leak appears five feet away. This is because the corrosion is systemic. The entire system has reached the end of its life, and the pressure is blowing out the weakest points, one by one.
The Economics of "Patching" vs. Repiping
We get it. A full repipe sounds expensive. It’s tempting to just pay $500 to fix the leak and move on.
But here is the math we share with our customers:
- Cost of an Emergency Leak Repair: $400 - $800 (plus drywall repair).
- Frequency: Once a system starts failing, you can expect 1-2 leaks per year.
- The Insurance Risk: Many home insurance policies have clauses about "old plumbing." If they see multiple claims for water damage, they may raise your premiums or drop your coverage entirely until the plumbing is updated.
"Patching" galvanized steel is like putting a band-aid on a broken leg. You are spending money to prolong the inevitable, and you aren't adding any value to your home.
A professional repipe is an investment. It immediately increases your home's resale value, lowers your insurance risk, and—most importantly—gives you back your water pressure.
Why We Use PEX-A (The Surgical Approach)
In the old days, repiping a house meant tearing down walls, ripping up floors, and making a massive mess. That is no longer the case.
At Xplore Plumbing, we specialize in PEX-A (Cross-linked Polyethylene) repiping. Specifically, we use the Uponor (Wirsbo) expansion system.
Why PEX-A wins over Copper for Seattle Homes:
- Freeze Resistance: Seattle winters are getting unpredictable. PEX-A can expand up to 300% without bursting, making it highly resistant to freezing temperatures compared to rigid copper or CPVC.
- Flexibility: This is the game-changer. Because the pipe is flexible, we can "fish" it through your walls and ceilings just like an electrician pulls wire. This means we only have to cut small, surgical access holes rather than demolishing entire sections of drywall.
- Cost: Copper prices fluctuate wildly. PEX is stable and significantly cheaper, allowing us to put your money toward high-quality valves and fixtures rather than raw materials.
- Quiet Flow: PEX absorbs the sound of rushing water and eliminates the "water hammer" banging noise common with metal pipes.
The Xplore Difference: We Don't Leave a Mess
The biggest fear homeowners have regarding a repipe is the destruction.
- We Protect Your Home: We use floor runners, shoe covers, and dust barriers.
- We Patch Our Cuts: We don’t leave you with gaping holes in your walls.
- We Upgrade the Main: We don't just do the inside; we assess your main water line to ensure you have the volume required for modern living.
Don't Wait for the Flood. If your home is over 50 years old, don't guess about the health of your plumbing. Contact Xplore Plumbing today for a Whole-Home Plumbing Inspection. We’ll measure your pressure, check your pipe composition, and give you an honest, no-pressure assessment.
