5 Signs You Need to Replace Your Plumbing Pipes (Before It Gets Expensive)

We tend to treat the plumbing in our homes like background actors in a movie — essential, always there, but rarely the focus. And honestly, that’s how it should be. Pipes should just work.
Until they don’t.

And when they stop working, they don’t go quietly. Burst pipes, stained walls, soggy drywall, and a creeping sense of “what’s that smell?” are all part of the chaos.

The truth? Most people wait too long. Because unless water is pouring from your ceiling or your shower pressure suddenly feels like a leaky garden hose, it’s easy to ignore the signs that your plumbing pipes are ageing out. But those signs are real, and catching them early can save you from a five-figure headache.

Here’s what to watch for before small problems become very wet, very expensive ones.

1. Discoloured water isn’t just ugly — it’s your plumbing telling you it’s tired

One of the first red flags is right in your glass. If your water looks a little off, even just occasionally, it’s worth paying attention.

It often starts subtly: you go to fill a pot, a kettle, or a glass, and something makes you pause. Maybe it looks slightly brown, or tinged yellow. Maybe it smells metallic or earthy.

This isn’t just a quirk of city water. It’s probably rust.

Older pipes — especially galvanized steel — corrode from the inside out. That corrosion flakes off and ends up in your water. It’s not always dangerous, but it is a clear signal that your plumbing is breaking down.

If you live in an older home and notice this often (especially in both hot and cold water), it’s more than a fluke. It’s a warning. That internal rust doesn’t just discolour your water — it eventually causes leaks and blockages too.

Don’t write it off as “normal.” Discoloured water is your plumbing waving the white flag.

2. Water pressure that’s slowly getting worse? It’s not just you

Sometimes, plumbing problems don’t scream — they whisper. A slow decline in water pressure is one of those signs that sneaks up on you.

You might not notice it at first. It could be months before you realize the shower feels weaker, or your kitchen tap seems sluggish. You might even chalk it up to an old fixture or assume the city is doing something to the water lines.

But if it’s happening all over the house, it’s something else entirely.

As pipes corrode on the inside, the scale and rust build up and slowly narrow the passage where water flows. That shrinking diameter reduces water pressure across your system.

This kind of widespread drop in pressure often means your pipes are deteriorating. If ignored, it doesn’t stay a mild annoyance for long. Eventually, it becomes an emergency — usually at the worst possible time.

3. You’re patching leaks like you’re playing Whac-A-Mole

Every homeowner gets a leak or two over time. But if you’re calling your plumber more often than your friends, something’s not right.

It might start small — a drip under the sink, a wet spot on the ceiling, a mysterious puddle in the basement. Each one might seem isolated. But if they keep showing up, it’s not just coincidence. It’s the plumbing equivalent of your house crying uncle.

Frequent leaks are a major sign that your system is in decline. Pipes don’t fail all at once. They deteriorate slowly, leak by leak.

You can keep patching. And yes, each fix might hold — for a while. But those Band-Aid repairs add up fast, both in cost and in risk. One small leak can escalate to serious damage before you know it.

At a certain point, replacing your pipes isn’t overkill. It’s the smarter, more cost-effective option.

4. Your exposed pipes look like hell

Most of your home’s plumbing is hidden — tucked away behind drywall, under floors, or inside ceilings. But in places like basements, laundry rooms, and mechanical closets, you get rare glimpses behind the curtain.

And what you see there can tell you a lot.

Grab a flashlight and take a walk around. Check the exposed sections of pipe in your home. If they look rough, chances are the parts you can’t see are in similar shape.

Watch for signs like:

• Flaking or peeling on the outside of metal pipes
  
  
• Greenish or bluish stains on copper (oxidation)
  
  
• Rust, especially around joints
  
  
• Persistent condensation that doesn’t fully dry
  
  

None of these are just surface issues. They’re signs of ongoing wear that could indicate deeper structural problems inside the pipes.

If the outside looks bad, the inside is likely worse. Visible deterioration is your cue to start planning, not waiting.

5. Your home is old enough to have a MySpace page

Let’s talk age. Not your age — your house’s.

If your home is more than 40 years old and the plumbing hasn’t been replaced, you could be living on borrowed time. Even high-quality materials degrade. And pipes don’t get better with age — they get brittle, corroded, or clogged.

Here’s a general lifespan guide:

• Galvanized steel (pre-1960s): ~40–50 years
  
  
• Copper (1960s–1990s): ~50–70 years
  
  
• PEX or PVC (1990s–present): ~40–70 years, depending on quality and use
  
  

Even if your pipes are “technically within lifespan,” those are just averages. Water quality, installation, and even the soil around your foundation can all shorten that window.

A house built in the 1970s is already past 50. If you haven’t updated the plumbing, those pipes have outlived their warranty — and possibly your luck.

No one wants to spend money on pipes you can’t see. But waiting too long is how you end up with soaked drywall, mould remediation, and a five-figure repair bill.

Pipe replacement sounds scary — but it doesn’t have to be

We get it. The idea of replacing all your pipes feels massive. Expensive. Messy. You’re picturing walls torn open, floors pulled up, water shut off for days.

But modern plumbing isn’t stuck in the past. Today’s materials and methods are faster, cleaner, and more affordable than ever. Flexible options like PEX can be installed with minimal disruption. In many cases, pipes can be rerouted without ripping open every wall.

Yes, it’s still a project. But putting it off because it seems overwhelming? That’s short-term thinking. A strategic replacement now can save you from disaster later — and spare you from midnight plumbing emergencies.

Time to Replace Plumbing Pipes? Don’t Wait for a Flood to Find Out

If your plumbing is dropping hints — rusty water, low pressure, mystery leaks — it’s not being dramatic. It’s telling you to act before a small issue turns into soaked walls and a five-figure mess.

And while you’re looking at plumbing upgrades, don’t forget your water heater. If it’s old, inefficient, or constantly running out of hot water, it might be time for an upgrade too.

Not sure where to start? Check out our guide on how to choose the right water heater for your home, then book your plumbing inspection today. Make informed decisions — before your pipes make them for you.