Galvanized Pipes… an end of an era. Wenatchee and Leavenworth Home Inspections
Like most components in a home they have a functional lifespan. As a home inspector in many cases we will inform a client of a component that has reached its predicted lifespan.
This does not mean that it will fail soon but the likelihood of failure is higher and that you should be planning for replacement.
As with the case of galvanized pipe it has several issues when it reaches it predicted lifespan.
Galvanized piping has a useful life of around 40 to 50 years. How long it will actually last depends on many variables. Galvanized pipe is an item that I see slipping away to the days of yore and it should.
Galvanized pipe reacts with minerals in the water supply. This in turn will produce scaling in the piping that can lead to lower water pressure. In areas of hard water it generally reduces the lifespan of galvanized pipe.
Galvanized pipe is a steel pipe that is covered with a layer of zinc to prevent corrosion and to increase its life expectancy. As it ages and start to corrode it will produce discoloration in the water and in extreme cases excessive staining of fixtures.
Another issue is rust warts. These are areas where the pipe has rusted through and will start to leak. The problem with them is they may rust back over and temporarily seal themselves.
The cost of re-piping can vary greatly depending accessibility and home finishes. A common cost around Wenatchee is usually around $250 per fixture. This will be one of the better investments. If you ever seen a flooded home you know this cost will be relatively low compared to the cost of replacing many items in your home due to a severe water leak.
When purchasing a older home this will be one of those cost you will need to think about.
“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”
Red Adair
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service
www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
Comments(6)