Is It Time to Repipe? 5 Warning Signs Your Plumbing’s on the Brink

Your home has secrets. Behind the walls, under the floors, and in the ceilings, your plumbing system is either quietly doing its job—or silently falling apart.

And if your house is older than your favorite pair of sweatpants, there's a solid chance those pipes are plotting their dramatic exit. We’re talking corrosion, leaks, weird smells, and maybe even that one mystery stain that keeps reappearing on your ceiling like a ghost with a grudge.

Repipe? Sounds scary. Sounds expensive. Sounds like something you definitely want to avoid until it’s absolutely necessary.

But waiting too long? That’s when your home throws a tantrum—and you end up replacing not just the pipes, but the drywall, the flooring, and your entire will to host holiday dinners.

Let’s save your sanity, your wallet, and your water bill. Here are five dead-giveaway signs that your plumbing is waving a white flag.

🚿 1. Your Water Pressure Has the Personality of a Sad Faucet

Have you noticed your once-mighty shower now feels more like a weak mist at best—or a judgmental drip at worst?

Inconsistent or low water pressure isn't just annoying. It’s the plumbing equivalent of wheezing. And in older homes, it often means buildup, corrosion, or leaks inside the pipes are restricting water flow.

This isn’t just a minor nuisance. It could be a symptom of any of these:

• Galvanized pipes closing in on themselves from decades of mineral buildup

• Undetected leaks somewhere in the walls

• Corroded sections flaking off internally like a rusty croissant

If your pressure issues aren't limited to one sink or showerhead but span the whole house, this is your plumbing’s way of begging you to take a peek behind the curtain.

🌈 2. Your Water Looks Like It’s Been Through a Time Machine

Let’s talk about the rainbow of wrongs.

If you turn on the tap and your water looks brown, yellow, orange, or cloudy—don’t drink it, don’t bathe in it, and definitely don’t pretend it’s “just a little sediment.”

Discoloration often means rust or corrosion inside old pipes. It’s especially common in steel pipes that have been around longer than cable TV.

You might notice a few things:

• A metallic taste (yum?)

• Orange rings in the toilet bowl or tub

• Clothing mysteriously stained in the wash

This isn't just ugly water. It’s a red flag that your pipes are disintegrating from the inside out. You’re basically sipping pipe flakes.

🔩 3. You’re Patching More Leaks Than a Pirate Ship

One leak? Okay, plumbing happens.

But if you’re constantly mopping up puddles, calling for emergency repairs, or discovering new water damage every month, your plumbing system might be in full rebellion mode.

Leaks aren’t always dramatic sprays. Sometimes, it’s a slow drip behind the wall that rots out studs, breeds mold, or ruins your ceiling mid-binge-watch.

Here’s what to watch for:

• Water stains on walls or ceilings that grow like weird Rorschach tests

• Buckling floorboards or soft drywall

• Mold or mildew smells that don’t go away

If leaks are playing hide-and-seek across your house, repiping could actually save money long-term. Think of it like getting new tires before you skid off the road.

🧊 4. Your Pipes Freeze...and Not Just in Winter

Yes, Utah winters can be brutal, but if your pipes are freezing even when it's only mildly cold—or worse, if you’ve had multiple bursts—it might not just be the weather.

Old metal pipes are more vulnerable to temperature shifts and pressure buildup. Over time, they get brittle. Combine that with even one cold snap, and boom—your hallway turns into a splash zone.

Also watch for these:

• Pipes sweating (condensation on the outside)

• Strange noises, like banging or whistling, as water tries to force its way through

• Pipes that just feel icy cold even when the heater’s blasting

Modern materials (like PEX) are way better at handling Utah’s freeze-thaw cycles. If you’re constantly heating, taping, or praying over your pipes each winter, it may be time to upgrade.

🧼 5. Your Water Smells Like Eggs—or a Swimming Pool

You know that moment when you turn on the faucet and immediately gag? That’s not just your nose playing tricks.

Foul-smelling water can indicate bacteria, decaying matter, or reactions between your water supply and decaying pipe material. Yikes.

Common culprits:

• Rotten egg smell = possible hydrogen sulfide gas, often from decaying organic matter

• Chlorine or bleach smell = could be city treatment interacting badly with old plumbing

• Musty or earthy smells = possibly mold in the plumbing or nearby leaks

Your nose is trying to protect you. When your tap water starts smelling like a science experiment, it’s usually a red flag that your pipes are harboring more than just water.

💡 Bonus Tip: How Old Is Old?

If your house was built before...

• 1960s: You may still have galvanized steel pipes

• 1970s–1990s: You could be dealing with polybutylene (aka the villain of plumbing materials)

• 1990s–2010s: You might still be using copper or CPVC, which can degrade depending on water quality and installation

Most pipes aren’t immortal. Even copper, the golden child of piping, typically lasts 50–70 years, max.

If you don’t know what kind of pipes you have—or how long they’ve been quietly aging like expired cheese—it’s worth getting an inspection before disaster strikes.

🛠 So...Do You Actually Need a Repipe?

Listen, no one wants to repipe. It's not as fun as a kitchen remodel or as visible as new floors.

But here's what it can do:

• Prevent thousands in water damage

• Improve water pressure and taste

• Lower long-term repair costs

• Increase your home’s value

In short? Sometimes the most heroic upgrades are the ones you never see.

If your plumbing is waving any of these red flags (or throwing all five at you like a bingo card of doom), don’t ignore it. Get ahead of the problem before your walls start crying for help.

Your future self, your pipes, and your utility bill will thank you.