Galvanized water supply pipes were the most common method of providing water to homes and inside homes from the early 1900’s until the early 1950’s. While there are a lot of factors that can contribute to how long these pipes will last, it is generally recognized that these pipes have a life expectancy of 40-50 years. By these guidelines there is likely none of this piping that is not past its expected life.
I have to say “likely” because I inspected a home 4 years ago where all of the original plumbing had been replaced with brand new galvanized piping----very unusual.
At the same time period that these supply pipes were being used, the same type of piping was used for drains as well. One should conclude that these pipes are also at the end of their expected life. When I find them I usually recommend replacement of both supply pipes and drain pipes for cost efficiency. Once the plumber is there why not have them replace both. Here is a picture of a drain line that has reached the end of its expected life. The stalactites of corrosion are where the pipe is leaking and re-sealing itself through a process called Auto-genic healing. This process will go on until the pipe can no longer seal itself and total failure will occur with much leaking/flooding being the result.
When your pipes look this bad on the outside it is a safe bet they look much worse on the inside.
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
DeCroe, is my "etherial" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog and other people's blogs to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Click on the Rose 
to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Yuk.
We had to have our line from the street to the house replaced a few months ago. The yard was wet and squishy one day and our son dug it up to see what was going on under the soil. It was a mini, mini geyser from the pipe. Good thing that wasn't in the house. Now the water flows better and it tastes better.
Sarah Rummage in Nashville
Sarah, that is pretty common. I always like to check the meter and make sure it is not moving when the house is vacant. If it is it can mean a bad line from the meter to the house underground----of course it could be just the toilet running----or the ice maker doing its thing:)
Looks like they got their moneys worth out of that one. I am glad I have PVC pipes.
John, every once in a while someone will ask me if these pipes can be cleaned:) (As a side note there are companies that do clean them out and then re-line them----not a terrible idea if you have pipes that are difficult to get at---like all levels are finished off.)
Dear John,
Thanks for the pictures and the post. I sell a lot of older homes. This is good info.
Thanks,
Barbara
Sorry, Charles, I called you John!
Barbara
It seems to me that there would be a lot of rust in the water supply. The good news, however, is that these pipes don't appear to be too difficult to access for replacement.
Barbara---not a problem. John would be my brother:) My aunt, that raised me, when she would get frustrated with my brother and me would blurt out "Chon!" It usually worked to get both of our attentions.
Steve, in any house with galvanized plumbing that sits for a period of time unused----the water will run rusty for a bit. More of a cosmetic issue really----and sometimes the first indication to the inspector that the home has galvanized pipes.
Charles, I bet you that if you showed a cross section of a galvanized pipe just recently pulled out of a house, more people would be replacing them.
Sonny, you are probably right about that:) Some people say that all that crud acts a bit like a filter:)
Charles, I assume this is the same piping that runs to the sewer. In our fair city, you have to replace it yourself even if it goes under the street and 14 feet down in the neighbor's yard to get to the sewer main. I'm being specific because I lived that experience. I see doing the replacement on your own property but when it gets to going under the street and in the neighbor's yard, that's a big "Ouch." I threw a fit but it did no good. Cost was about $4750. The city felt their share was about $400.
Barbara, actually this pipe is different from the main sewer pipe. This galvanized type of pipe should never be buried in the ground and in some jurisditions it was not even allowed to be used for drains---only venting. Here in the NW plumbers never got that memo so we see it just as much for drains as for venting. Pipes buried in the ground at the time this was used would have been cast iron type pipe, clay or concrete tiles. You are right that it can be very costly to deal with.
Charlie,
Years back I had such a pipe in my basement. I looked down the length of it, did not see holes....only partial view was possible. But then I replaced it and it was full of pin holes.
Sure Steve---but you have Nutsy the pipe cleaner at your disposal:)
Do the the trenchless repipes work?
Simon---sure. If the pipe is too damaged or there has been differential settlement then it becomes more problematic. The net size is going to be smaller----but so much more efficient that it would have to be better:)
Mmm. If we saw that before writing a contract, replacement would be a condition of the contract. Why wait for a home inspection??
Lenn, I am sure you know there are actually people that would look at that picture and not know what it meant:)
Can't believe that the homeowner could look at the pipe and not know that there was a problem.
Born and raised in a family full of plumbers I look at that picture first the way they would. Learned how to cut and thread galv. pipe and pour lead in a hemp joint before I was ten. Now you come and tell me that the stuff I installed as a kid is past its usefulness. The bad thing about it is I agree with you. Feeling older everyday.
Jim, these pipes were way inside a crawl space where no man dared to go:)
Jack, same here. It is weird to think about how so much of the stuff I built in my early career is now slated for remodel.
Oh no! They aren't supposed to look like that?!! Ever try a little of that powder in your drink? Or soup? Now, THAT'S good eating! Auto-genic seasoning...
In that picture, the tubing almost looks like an uninsulated HVAC vent!
Jay, lots of things think Galvanized pipe is good food:)
Charles, I thought of the name of what has been used all over our town and is now being replaced. It's orangeburg pipes. Wikipedia says this.
Orangeburg pipe was made in sizes from 2 to 18" ID out of wood pulp sealed with hot pitch. Joints were made in a similar fashion and, due to the materials involved, were able to be sealed without the usage of adhesives. Orangeburg was lightweight, albeit brittle, and soft enough to be cut with a handsaw. Orangeburg was a low cost alternative to metal for sewer lines in particular. Lack of strength causes pipes made of orangeburg to fail more frequently than pipes made with other materials. The useful life for an orangeburg pipe is about 50 years. It has been taken off the list of acceptable materials by most building codes.
This is the stuff that we're having to worry about replacing all over Searcy AR. And you know, 50 years for a house goes by in a flash!!
Barbara, I know the stuff----have installed the stuff (in the old days:) It never should have been used for sewers and was a poor choice for any application as it crushed too easily over time. When I first started building it was mostly used for footing perimeter drains----I can still remember the smell of the pipe. When you are 20, you can't possibly have any idea how short 50 years is:)
I would not like to drink from that supply! Good articale Charles.
C.Petty
Thanks for the comment C.
Auto-genic healing, isn't that what some salamanders do when they loose a limb. Now if someone could come up with an auto-genic pipe that could grow a new "limb" when you needed to put in new sink or shower. That would be something.
James, I think if you can figure out a way to accomplish that you would be a very rich man:)
Good information. We are seeing a lot of this as a Charleston plumber.