Galvanized Iron Pipe

This was used in many older homes and can be recognized by its galvanized steel color. Over the years it fills with lime and corrosion and flow of water can be significantly reduced. If it must be worked on try to be as gentle as possible and do the minimum required. Pulling and twisting with a pipe wrench at one location can easily cause leaks at other locations.

Pipe can be threaded, but it is probably better to transition to one of the newer more flexible materials.

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Gary Williams

I have a question. Is it possible to change out the galvanized pipes to pex from the bottom of the house on a 1973 heritage mobile home I haven’t even tore the paper to see if I can get to the plumbing. Thought u might know thanks

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Paul

Hi Gary,

Yes, probably. I have seen houses where the old pipe went along a wall on the inside too. I would consider fastening the PEX to the old pipe . Then you don’t have to pull the pipe out and can get by with only cutting small slits in the bottom.

Paul

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Gary Williams

Thanks the only ones that come out of the walls are the toilets and the washer so I was thinking I could come though the floor next to the walls Thanks for the info wonder if I should go with 1/2 or 3/4 it has 1/2 galvanized now with about 1/4. That’s not full of rust

Reply

Paul

It always seemed to me the materials cost was small compared to the effort of installing it. It wouldn’t be any more work to put in the larger lines, so why not? Then maybe no one would get scalded when someone flushed a toilet while they were in the shower :)

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Gary Williams

Thanks kind of what I was thinking It’s about the same price

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