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Do I need to replace/upgrade main water service line

5 years ago

I am replacing old galvanized pipe with copper in an old house. Because the main water service line is also galvanized which I guess is as old as the house (>50 yrs), I wonder if I should also update the water service line to copper, too. Will the old galvanized pipe still affect water quality even though in-house pipe is updated to copper?

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Comments (9)

kudzu9
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
If you are talking about the pipe from the meter to the house being galvanized, you should definitely replace it. In my previous home, I did this when the piping was about 40 years old because I was also replacing the lines inside the house with copper. When I removed the old galvanized pipe that ran from the meter, there was so much internal corrosion (rust and nodules) that you couldn't see daylight by looking down even a 10' length of it. Once you replace yours you should see an improvement in the water pressure in your house because you will have removed a bottleneck. It will also reduce sediment and rust in your water.
pima74
5 years ago
Also having the two different metals connected together can cause galvanic reaction between them causing corrosion and an eventual leak.
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kudzu9
5 years ago
pima-

Good point. They do make dielectric fittings that galvanically isolate the two dissimilar metals, but these can fail if the gasket deteriorates. I would only use them temporarily if I had a longterm home project and couldn't replace all the old galvanized pipe at one time.
klem1
5 years ago
Nay,the new pipe will filter out anything that get's in water while flowing through old main line. Lot's of people only replace pipe from wall to sink and report having good pressure and clean water afterwards.
kudzu9
5 years ago
klem-

Not following you on this one. How exactly does new pipe filter out anything?
User
5 years ago
Should be using PEX. Not copper.
Jake The Wonderdog
5 years ago
Thomas Tzeng

Either copper or PEX are good choices for piping inside the house. For an existing house I would at least consider PEX because it can be easier to install.

The service line (from the street or meter pit to the inside of the house) can be replaced at any time. Galvanized pipe that is 50+ years old is going to be significantly restricted AND will be nearing the end of its intended lifespan. That said, I've had galvanized service lines last 80+ years. If you have the resources, go ahead and replace it. If you don't, it can wait. There's no real compelling reason to do it at the same time.

If the service lines are lead - or have lead connections -- replace it ASAP.
kudzu9
5 years ago
I'm a believer in copper. Never had any failures with it, but I have friends who had PEX installed and one had a couple of leaks in the house after a number of years, and another had a failure in the main supply line from the meter that resulted in a one month bill of over $1200.
Jake The Wonderdog
5 years ago
Yeah, although PEX is approved for direct burial, I'd go with copper for the service line. Inside the house it's a tossup.

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