I'm sure the water pipes are full of crud and need to be replaced. The bottom line question is how can I discover the route of our old existing pipes without opening the walls? I want to know what I am likely facing in terms of mess and disruption and expense before I start calling plumbing contractors for estimates.
More detail: In our 1915 house all the pipes inside the walls are at least 40 years old, maybe older. They are definitely not copper; I hope they are not lead. I can see where the pipes go up from the basement. They go first to the bathroom on the second floor then across somehow to the tub and sink and toilet (where the water pressure is adequate, but not great) and then down to the kitchen sink on the first floor (where the cold water pressure is adequate, but the hot water pressure is little better than a trickle). The pipes necessarily have to make several turns along the way. The walls are lath and plaster. There are baseboards, other woodwork and ceramic tiles. Is there some device I can buy or rent to try to determine the exact pipe path to see what might have to be torn out?
Alternatively I am considering just capping off the existing pipes and finding a different route. The simplest way would put part of the pipes outside. Would this be a problem? It freezes here in San Francisco about two nights every 10 years or so.
Useful suggestions on how to proceed will be appreciated.
Paul in San Francisco