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Question about copper supply pipe

8 years ago

Is there such a thing as copper water lines only lasting so long? To be more specific, if installation was done correctly and using municipal water through type M copper, could it be said that the pipes could only have a service life for just so long? Say 50-60 years?

Comments (5)

  • 8 years ago

    Copper has an indefinite life span. Some things can affect this, but in general it's not something to worry about. Why are you asking this?

  • 8 years ago

    Was at a neighbor's house a while back to repair a leaky toilet. Went into the basement to turn off the water and had seen previous repairs on copper lines. Asked her about it, and told me that they were leaks that had been repaired. It caught my attention being that she has the same municipal water supply.

  • 8 years ago

    Copper lines won't last forever if the water quality is not as it should be. Municipal water is supposed be treated (pH and mineral content) such that it tends to scale supply pipes shut over a century (+/- 50 years). It has to be that way or they will slowly corrode on the other side of the balance. With well water or spring water, you are, obviously on your own. It is really pretty simple, standard stuff that rarely gets screwed up on the large scale, but they managed to do it in Flint recently. Drain pipes depend on what you put in them, but they should last a long time too unless you abuse them.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Copper has been known to develop pin-hole leaks over time, depending on water quality and other factors.

  • 8 years ago

    When I thought my new water heater was leaking in 2013, it turned out to be pin holes in the Type M copper lines going to the water heater. I cut the drywall and discovered where the pin holes were. I removed the Type M copper lines and replaced them with Type L. No problems since, but I do keep my fingers crossed. Several neighbors have had their home re-plumbed with overhead plumbing. House was built in 1986/87 and we have very hard water.

    Old copper line

    Green area shows location of pin hole leaks


    After photos of in and out copper lines replaced.