Why age matters in Bothell
Bothell had about 1,000 people in 1950, and by 1992 it was about twenty five times larger, helped by I-5 and I-405. Many neighborhoods were built during those decades, which means plenty of houses have original plumbing that is now thirty, fifty or more years old.
Pipe materials from that era were chosen for what was common and affordable at the time. Some have aged well. Others have a known failure pattern. Knowing what you have lets you plan instead of react.
Common older materials and how they fail
| Material | Where found | How it fails |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel supply | Older supply lines | Corrodes inside, low pressure, rusty water |
| Polybutylene supply | Some homes built between the 1970s and 1990s | Becomes brittle, fittings fail |
| Old copper supply | Many homes | Pinhole leaks, pitting |
| Cast iron drain | Older drains and stacks | Scales, rusts, cracks at joints |
| Clay sewer lateral | Older laterals | Roots at joints, cracks |
| Orangeburg lateral | Some mid-century laterals | Softens, deforms, collapses |
Not sure what pipes you have?
Call and describe the house. We can identify materials and tell you what to watch.
Signs to watch for
Rusty or brown water
Common with galvanized pipe, especially after the water has been off.
Low pressure at many fixtures
Buildup inside old supply lines narrows the pipe.
Pinhole leaks
Several small leaks in copper suggest the line is thinning.
Recurring drain backups
Roots, a belly or cracked joints in the drain or lateral.
What to do about it
You do not have to replace everything at once. A camera in the sewer line shows the condition of the drain, and a pressure test shows the supply side. Based on that, you can decide on a spot repair, a partial repipe or a full repipe.
If you have had more than one leak, repiping is often more cost effective than repeated repairs. If the lateral has roots, see sewer line repair. For the supply side see repiping.
Buying or selling an older Bothell home
If you are buying, ask for the age of the home and any plumbing updates. A standard home inspection looks at visible plumbing but usually not the buried sewer line. A camera inspection adds that picture and can affect your offer.
If you are selling, a recent camera report and a list of updates can reassure buyers. If a problem is found, you can choose to fix it first or price it in.
Planning in stages
You do not have to do everything at once. Many owners fix the failing item first, such as a leaking main shutoff or a rusted section of drain, then plan a repipe or lateral replacement as a project. Staging keeps costs manageable.
The risk of waiting is a leak in the wrong place. Know where your main shutoff is, and replace it if it does not close fully.
Older-home plumbing checklist
- Locate and test the main shutoff
- Identify the supply pipe material at the water heater
- Look for green crust on copper or rust on steel
- Check water pressure with a gauge
- Note any drains that clog repeatedly
- Have the sewer lateral scoped once, then keep the footage
Older neighborhoods in and around Bothell
Downtown Bothell, Maywood and Beckstrom Hill and parts of the Sammamish River corridor have older housing than the newer subdivisions around Canyon Park and North Creek. Older houses are likelier to have original pipe, and many have had piecemeal repairs.
The City of Bothell reports that lead in drinking water comes mainly from service lines and home plumbing, and its water is soft. Soft water does not stop old pipes from aging. Older homes in nearby Kenmore share many of the same issues, and our service areas page lists where we work. The City FAQ says homeowners are responsible for the service line to the home.
Older home plumbing questions
It is usually gray, blue or black plastic with markings. If you see it, ask a plumber to confirm. Many homeowners choose to replace it.
It can be. It corrodes from the inside regardless of how soft the water is, which can reduce flow and cause rust-colored water.
There is no fixed age. Condition depends on material, roots and soil. A camera inspection shows what shape the line is in.
Not necessarily. If a buyer inspection finds a problem, you may need to address it. A camera run can give you facts either way.
Repiping typically needs one. The City of Bothell Permit Center can tell you what applies.
Sometimes. If the pipe is sound apart from a single leak, repair is fine. Repeated leaks suggest the line is failing.