Our North York home has galvanized steel pipes — should we replace them during a bathroom renovation?

Yes — if your North York home still has galvanized steel water supply pipes, a bathroom renovation is the ideal time to replace them, and most experienced GTA plumbers will strongly recommend it. Galvanized steel pipes were standard in Toronto homes built from the 1920s through the 1960s, and at 60–100+ years old, they are well past their functional lifespan. North York's enormous stock of post-war bungalows, split-levels, and wartime housing built between 1945 and 1965 commonly still has original galvanized supply lines — and these pipes are a ticking clock for water pressure problems, discoloured water, and eventual leaks.

The core problem with galvanized steel is internal corrosion. Over decades, the zinc coating inside the pipe corrodes and the exposed steel rusts, building up layers of mineral deposits and corrosion scale that progressively restrict water flow. A pipe that started with a 3/4-inch interior diameter may now have an effective opening of 1/4 inch or less. This is why North York homeowners with galvanized pipes often notice low water pressure at the bathroom faucet, slow-filling toilets, and reduced shower flow — especially when multiple fixtures run simultaneously.

What Replacement Involves

The modern replacement for galvanized supply lines is copper or PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). Both are approved under the Ontario Building Code and widely used by GTA plumbers.

Copper is the traditional premium choice — durable, proven, and with a 50–70 year lifespan. Copper supply line replacement for a typical North York home (main line from the water meter to all fixtures) runs $3,000–$6,000 depending on the number of fixtures, accessibility of the pipe runs, and whether walls and ceilings need to be opened and repaired.

PEX has become the dominant choice for residential replumbing in the GTA over the past decade. It's flexible (requiring fewer fittings and connections), resistant to freezing (important in Toronto's winters), and significantly less expensive in both materials and labour. A full PEX replumb of supply lines in a typical North York home runs $2,500–$5,000. PEX is run through walls and floors much like electrical cable, which reduces the amount of wall opening required.

Why a Bathroom Renovation Is the Perfect Time

During a bathroom renovation, your contractor is already opening walls, removing fixtures, and exposing plumbing. The incremental cost of replacing the galvanized supply lines while the walls are open is dramatically lower than doing it as a standalone project later, when walls would need to be opened specifically for the plumbing work and then repaired and refinished. The demolition and wall repair costs are already built into your renovation budget.

If you're replacing supply lines in the bathroom during a renovation, discuss with your plumber whether it makes sense to extend the replumb to the rest of the house at the same time. The additional cost to run new PEX lines to the kitchen, laundry, and other bathrooms while the main trunk line is being replaced is modest compared to doing it as a separate project. Many GTA plumbers offer a whole-house replumb at a better per-fixture rate when combined with a bathroom renovation.

The Drain Side

Galvanized steel was also used for drain lines in many North York homes of this era, though cast iron was more common for main drains. If your home has galvanized drain pipes (smaller branch drains from sinks and tubs), these should also be replaced — they develop the same internal corrosion and are prone to developing pinhole leaks and blockages. Replacement with ABS plastic drain pipe is standard in the GTA, and a licensed plumber can do this work under a plumbing permit through the City of Toronto.

Permits and Inspections

Replacing supply lines and drain lines requires a plumbing permit from the City of Toronto Building Division. Your licensed plumber should arrange the permit and the required inspection. The inspection must occur before walls are closed up — coordinate this with your general contractor's timeline so the plumbing inspection doesn't delay the drywall and tiling phases of your bathroom renovation.

A galvanized pipe replacement also protects your home's resale value. GTA home buyers and their inspectors will flag galvanized pipes as a concern, and many insurance companies in Ontario are increasingly reluctant to provide or renew homeowner's insurance on properties with original galvanized plumbing. Replacing these pipes during a renovation removes a significant liability and potential deal-breaker when you eventually sell.