Charleston has plenty of older homes, from the historic East End and Edgewood to the West Side and South Charleston. Many homes built before the 1960s were plumbed with galvanized steel pipe: steel coated with zinc to slow rust. That coating wears away over the decades, and the pipe starts to corrode from the inside.
How to tell if you have galvanized pipe
- Look where the water line enters the house or at pipes near the water heater.
- Galvanized pipe is dull silver-gray and has threaded fittings where pieces screw together.
- Scratch it with a key: galvanized steel stays gray, while copper shows a penny color.
- A strong magnet will stick to galvanized steel but not to copper or plastic.
Common problems
- Low water pressure as rust builds up and narrows the inside of the pipe
- Brown or rusty water, especially after the water has been off for a while
- Pinhole leaks and leaks at threaded joints
- Uneven pressure, like one bathroom that's always weaker than the rest
Repair or replace?
A single leak can be repaired, but corrosion is usually spread through the whole system, so new leaks tend to follow. Many homeowners replace galvanized lines in stages, starting with the worst sections, or replace them all at once with copper or PEX during a remodel. We'll look at your pipes and explain the options and price before any work starts.
Need a Hand?
Montani Mechanical Group's licensed plumbers serve homes and businesses across Charleston, WV. Related services: