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How old are your water pipes?

By Todd Clark - Retired

Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

September 13, 2008 05:57 AM

Last week we went on a little vacation to Silver Falls State Park outside Silverton, Oregon, and while driving through, we decided to stop off and find out more about this city's history. I've been there and written about this city before, so I knew this city had something to show us.

This one amazed me...To me, 1980 was not that long ago. And yes, I do realize that some of you in the rain were not born yet, but to me it wasn't that long ago. (I still remember Mt. Saint Helens erupting and looking out my back window and watching it.)

But, that same year in Silverton, Oregon, they were removing the last of their old water pipes. The picture below is that section of water pipe, and yes that is a wood pipe you are looking at.

So, tell me, how old are your pipes and do they still work after a 100+ years?

BELOW YOU WILL FIND ALL THE CONDOS FOR SALE IN
SILVERTON, OREGON

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Veronica DeCarolis

Weidel Realtors - Flemington, NJ

Do you know what they used for replacements? It would be interesting to know if the new pipes last as long. Thanks for writing. Veronica

Sep 13, 2008 06:01 AM

Cameron Novak

The Homefinding Center - 1000 Palms, CA

Real Estate Broker since 2008

AMAZING... THANKS FOR SHARING. Most of the stuff people think are interesting on AR don't interest most other people.

Very cool... I had no idea they ever used wood for water pipes, although I know boats do well with wood due to the expansion when the members are wet. I would imaging though that there is little to no pressure in the water pipe shown.

Cameron Novak
Corona Real Estate Broker
The Homefinding Center^TM
Corona, California
951-212-7479

Chat About Real Estate 24/7/365

Sep 13, 2008 06:09 AM

Tim Hawkins

Remax Realty Pros - Pell City, AL

Realtor Pell City, Pell City Real Estate

bought a house last year that was 108 years old, all the plumbing was cast iron, it was alot fo fun to replace

Sep 13, 2008 07:23 AM

Fred Chamberlin

Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA - Oak Harbor, WA

Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant

Todd, great interest piece. I wonder what is under some of the smaller towns around that hasn't been replaced yet????

Sep 13, 2008 07:56 AM

Larry Bettag

Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL

Vice-President of National Production

Very cool....I enjoy seeing stuff like this.

Sep 13, 2008 08:06 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

TC,

How did those old wooden pipes not rot away??? Amazing! Thanks, Fran

Sep 13, 2008 08:12 AM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

Veronica - I don't know, but maybe I'll call the city in a couple weeks and try to find out.

Cameron - I didn't either, but it makes sense. They didn't have really anything else they could have made the pipes out of at that time, plastics hadn't been invented yet and I don't think the cement pipes came about for another 50 years. It really was cool though!

Sep 14, 2008 06:50 AM

Tim - How much rust came out of those pipes when you turned on the water? WOW! I would love to see the pictures of the home, I love older homes.

Fred - I know there are certainly smaller and older towns in Oregon and I do have to wonder if they have had their pipes replaced or if they are still using something like this.

Sep 14, 2008 06:52 AM

Larry - It was neat to see what the city used before today. I love how they plugged the holes. If you look in the picture they just plugged the holes with small splinters of wood.

Fran - I have no idea? I would have thought within 10 years those pipes would have been destroyed!

Sep 14, 2008 06:53 AM

Debra Kukulski, Broker Associate

RE/MAX Suburban - Cary, IL

SRES;SFR,CDPE;GRI;ABR;e-PRO Realtor, Northern IL

I thought I had seen some old plumbing but WOW...I have never seen wood pipes like this! How interesting.

Sep 14, 2008 09:23 PM

How old are your water pipes?

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