You spot a grey pipe near the water meter and wonder: is this simply an old pipe, or am I looking at lead? In a home built before 1960, that is a reasonable question. Lead pipes can release lead into drinking water. Fortunately, there are a few things you can check yourself first. If you are still unsure afterwards, have the material confirmed before replacing anything.
Short answer: if your home was built before 1960, check the visible water pipes first. Lead pipes are usually grey, slightly irregular in shape and often have thickened joints rather than separate fittings. Can’t see all of the pipework or are you unsure about the material? Have the water tested or ask a plumber to inspect the pipes. If lead is still present, replacement is the long-term solution.
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How can you identify lead pipes?
An old pipe is not automatically a lead pipe. Especially in older homes, you may find several materials next to each other. A bit of copper here, plastic there and somewhere else a pipe nobody quite remembers installing.
There are several signs that may point to a lead water pipe:
The pipe is grey. Lead does not have the reddish-brown colour of copper.
The surface is slightly irregular. Lead can look lumpier and less perfectly straight than modern pipework.
The joints look different. Older lead pipes often have thickened sections instead of clearly separate fittings.
The pipe sounds dull. If you gently tap it, lead generally sounds duller than copper or steel.
The metal underneath is silvery-grey. On a painted pipe, a small exposed section may reveal the underlying colour.
One characteristic on its own is not enough to confirm that a pipe is made of lead. But if you see several of these signs and live in an older property, it is worth checking further.
Which homes may still contain lead pipes?
The age of the property is the easiest place to start. Lead drinking-water pipes were no longer installed in new Dutch homes from around 1960 onwards.
Homes built before 1960 are therefore the main group to check. Lead pipes were particularly common in houses built before 1945, although they were still used in some properties in the years after the war.
But the year of construction does not tell you everything.
A house from 1930 may have had all of its pipework replaced years ago. On the other hand, a renovation may only have replaced the visible pipes in the kitchen or bathroom, while an older section remained underneath the floor or behind a wall.
A modern-looking pipe near the water meter therefore does not automatically mean the entire property is free of lead.
How can you check for lead pipes yourself?
You do not need to start removing floors or opening walls straight away. Begin with the things you can inspect without causing damage.
1. Check when the property was built
Was the home built after 1960? Then original lead drinking-water pipes are unlikely. If the property is older, continue checking.
2. Find the water meter
Look around the meter and follow the water pipe into the property where possible. The meter cupboard, basement, crawl space or area beneath the stairs are sensible places to start.
3. Look at the colour and shape
Look for a grey pipe with a slightly uneven shape and thickened joints. Compare it with copper or plastic pipes elsewhere in the home if that helps.
4. Find out whether pipework has been replaced before
A renovated kitchen or bathroom does not necessarily mean that all water pipes were replaced. If possible, ask the previous owner, landlord or contractor what was actually changed.
5. Remember the parts you cannot see
This is where it becomes more difficult. Pipes may disappear beneath floors or behind walls. If you can only see the beginning and end of the pipe, you cannot be certain which material is used in between.
6. Have the water or pipework checked if you are unsure
If you cannot determine it yourself, you can have the drinking water tested for lead by a suitable laboratory. A plumber can also inspect the pipework and help determine which sections may need replacing.
You do not need to prove yourself that every metre of pipe is made of lead. If you are unsure, that is already a good reason to have it checked.
Have a plumber inspect your pipework →
What should you do if you suspect lead pipes?
There is a difference between suspecting lead and knowing for certain that it is present.
You suspect the pipe may be lead
Start by checking the age of the property, visible pipework and any information you can find about previous renovations. If you still cannot identify the material afterwards, have it inspected.
You know there are lead pipes
In that case, replacement is the long-term solution. Lead can enter drinking water from the pipe itself. Flushing the tap can temporarily reduce the amount of lead in standing water, but it does not remove the source.
Until the lead pipes have been replaced, it may be advisable to use alternative safe drinking water for drinking and food preparation, especially for pregnant women, babies and young children.
Boiling the water does not remove lead.
You live in a rental property
Inform your landlord. The owner is responsible for the pipework inside the property. The water company is responsible for its part of the connection outside the home.
Can you replace lead pipes yourself?
Looking at a pipe yourself is easy enough.
Replacing an entire drinking-water pipe is something else.
The water supply needs to be shut off, the sections to be replaced must be identified and new joints have to be installed correctly and without leaks. In older properties, pipes may also be hidden under floors, inside ducts or behind tiles.
That can turn a simple-looking job into quite a bit of breaking, replacing and repairing.
There is another consideration in older homes too: metal water pipes may historically have been connected to the electrical earthing system. If metal pipework is replaced with plastic, the electrical earthing may also need to be checked.
Checking the pipe yourself is fine. Opening up an unknown old pipe system is usually where the sensible DIY part ends.
Have a lead pipe inspected or replaced →
What does a plumber do with lead pipes?
In an older property, a good pipework job does not start with cutting pipes. First, the plumber needs to understand what is actually there.
Inspect the pipework. The plumber checks the visible pipes and their route through the home.
Determine the material and extent. Is there one old lead section or does lead pipework run through several parts of the house?
Check accessibility. Are the pipes exposed, in the crawl space, behind a wall or underneath the floor?
Replace the old pipework. The lead sections are replaced with suitable modern pipe materials.
Check the system. Connections and joints are checked for leaks and correct operation afterwards.
Step two is particularly important. You do not want to replace one visible section only to discover that another old section remains underneath the floor.
What do customers say about pipework jobs?
With pipework, it is not always clear beforehand what a plumber will find behind a wall, underneath a floor or inside a kitchen cupboard.
That is why customer reviews often mention clear explanations, good communication and a plumber who thinks along when the situation turns out to be different from expected.
One review of a Zoofy job describes exactly the type of situation covered in this article:
“Lead pipes had to be replaced. Great service and very quick too!”
Other reviews of pipework jobs show a similar pattern. Customers appreciate it when the plumber explains what has been found, discusses the solution and makes clear if more pipework or additional materials are needed than originally expected.
That matters especially in older homes.
You know the pipes are old.
You just do not always know how much of the old pipework is still there.
What does it cost to replace lead pipes?
There is no useful fixed price without first looking at the situation. Replacing one easily accessible section is very different from replacing pipework that runs beneath floors and behind walls.
The cost mainly depends on:
how many metres of pipe need to be replaced;
where the pipes are located;
whether floors, walls or tiles need to be opened;
which replacement material is used;
how many connections need to be renewed;
whether repair work is needed afterwards.
For that reason, it makes sense to first determine exactly where the old pipework runs. Once that is clear, the plumber can give a much better indication of the work involved.
Can you leave lead pipes in place?
The awkward thing about a lead water pipe is that you do not necessarily notice anything.
No puddle.
No strange noise.
No pipe politely reminding you every morning that it has been there since 1932.
The problem is that lead can enter the drinking water from the pipe itself.
Flushing the tap can reduce the amount of lead in water that has been standing in the pipe, but it does not change the material of the pipe itself.
If you know that lead pipes are present, replacement is therefore the structural solution.
How do you make sure no lead pipe is left behind?
Do not only inspect the easiest visible section. Ask the plumber to consider the full route from the water meter to the different taps in the home.
Useful questions include:
Which old pipe sections are visible?
Which parts disappear behind walls or underneath floors?
Do we know what was replaced during previous renovations?
Has the water company already replaced its part of the connection?
Does the electrical earthing need to be checked after replacement?
That helps prevent a situation where you have a beautifully new section of pipework with one small historic souvenir still hiding underneath the floor.
Frequently asked questions about lead pipes
Which homes may still contain lead pipes?
Homes built before 1960 are the main group where lead drinking-water pipes may still be present. They were especially common in older pre-war properties.
How can I be sure a pipe is made of lead?
A grey colour, irregular shape and thickened joints are useful clues. If the pipe is difficult to inspect or disappears behind a wall or floor, have the pipework assessed or have the drinking water tested.
Can a house contain both lead pipes and newer pipework?
Yes. This is common in renovated older homes. A kitchen or bathroom may have new pipework while an older section remains elsewhere in the property.
Is flushing the tap enough if I have lead pipes?
No. Flushing can reduce the amount of lead in standing water, but it does not remove the source. Replacing the lead pipe is the structural solution.
Does boiling the water remove lead?
No. Boiling the water does not remove lead.
Who is responsible for lead pipes in a rental property?
The property owner or landlord is responsible for the pipework inside the home. If you suspect lead pipes in a rental property, report it to the landlord and ask for an inspection.
Which professional replaces lead pipes?
A plumber can assess the pipework and replace old drinking-water pipes. In older homes, an additional check of the electrical earthing may sometimes also be necessary.
Found lead pipes? Have the pipework checked
A grey pipe in an old house does not automatically mean a major renovation is required.
But continuing to wonder about it while using the same tap every day is not particularly useful either.
First find out what is actually there. If something needs replacing, you will then know exactly which part of the pipework needs attention.
Through Zoofy, you can book a plumber to inspect the pipework and discuss the replacement with you.
My name is Wilm, a construction and home improvement expert at Zoofy, with many years of experience in the construction and renovation sector. Over the years, I have supervised countless projects, ranging from small maintenance jobs to full-scale renovations. This hands-on experience has taught me how essential transparency in pricing and quality is for every project.
At Zoofy, I share my knowledge about construction costs, pricing, and smartly comparing jobs. Whether it’s the cost of a painter, a plumber’s hourly rate, or the price of a complete bathroom renovation, I help you understand what a fair price is and what to look out for.
My goal is to make home improvement projects more transparent, so everyone knows where their money goes. By combining up-to-date pricing information with real-world experience, I make it easier to find the right professional—without any surprises afterward.