Old copper lines still good?

[Plumber69]

Usually when I cut in to old copper lines....30 plus years they r paper thin. How long can copper last. This copper must be 30 40 years old and it's still thick

 

[Craigpump]

Depends on water quality, neutral water won't have a detrimental effect on copper.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Standardairconditioner]

Usually when I cut in to old copper lines....30 plus years they r paper thin.

"paper thin" is rather relative to point of view.

A dial caliper to measure actual wall thickness should be the only true observation.

I'm measuring some new copper stock now and get about 1.2mm on thickness.

I know there is a chart out there that has psi burst pressure based on thickness, that would give facts.

 

[Dj2]

I've seen copper Type M go even longer than that, when the copper doesn't have contact with earth or concrete.
I've also seen copper Type M develop pin holes and fail sooner than that.