How Long Do Pipes Last?

Because pipes don’t have any moving parts, it’s easy to forget about them and believe that their only job is to just “sit there.” In truth, however, pipes, both for carrying water, and draining it away, are expected to perform their jobs for decades. But for just how many decades? Here’s what you should think about before calling Crofton Maryland plumbing services about looking into your pipes.

Material Matters

The age of a home will determine the initial pipe it was constructed with. If a home hasn’t had any recent renovation done, and plumbing hasn’t been touched, here’s what you can expect in terms of material, and lifespan of that material.

Copper Water Pipe

This is still a very common material used to carry water into a home, especially in older homes. Copper is cost-effective, easy to use, and will last for about 80-100 years if properly taken care of.

Galvanized Steel Water Pipe

A more durable choice, but also more expensive, steel has about the same lifespan as copper but is a hardier material. It’s a popular choice for heavy-duty water usage.

PEX Water Pipe

Cross-linked polyethylene or PEX is a modern water piping material. It’s very popular now because it’s cheaper, more flexible, doesn’t corrode and doesn’t require soldering the way metal pipes do. However, it is more vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, making it unsuitable for outdoors, and lasts about 50 years.

Cast Iron Drain Pipe

Older homes constructed before the 1960s often used cast iron as a choice for drain pipes. These pipes can, if well maintained, last over 100 years, and in some Victorian homes from the early 1900s, you can still find these pipes in use. However, they can rust and corrode.

PVC Drain Pipe

PVC or polyvinyl chloride replaced cast iron and is used for similar reasons to PEX. In theory, they may last as long as cast iron, though they are more vulnerable to corrosion from drain pipe cleaning chemicals, which may reduce their lifespan 50 years.

If you’d like to know what state your pipes are in, call up Crofton Maryland plumbing services like us, and let us have a look.