How long does ABS pipe last?

The expected lifespan of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) pipe is 50 to 80 years, with an average of 70 years. This black plastic drain (DWV) pipe has only been in widespread use in the United States since the 1970s, so the material is too young for a more accurate determination, but it is expected to be similar to PVC pipe.

    Here’s a graph comparing the life expectancy of ABS to other types of pipe used in residential plumbing.
   The use of ABS declined in our area after the mid-1980s for site-built homes, in favor of PVC, although still popular in other parts of the country. It remained as the standard DWV pipe with manufacturers of mobile homes until the turn of the century. Also, see our blog post What is the difference between PVC and ABS plumbing pipe?

    Go to our blog post What is the average lifespan of the parts of a house? for rating of other house components. 

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about PLUMBING PIPES:

Cast Iron Pipe 

• What is the average life expectancy of cast iron pipe?

• How can I tell if I have cast iron pipes in my house? 

Copper Pipe 

• What is the average life expectancy of copper pipe?

• Should I use a dielectric union or brass nipple to connect copper tubing and galvanized steel pipe?

• What problems are caused by connecting copper pipe/tubing directly to galvanized steel pipe?  

CPVC Pipe 

• What is the average life expectancy of CPVC pipe?

• Can you connect CPVC pipe directly to a gas water heater?   

Galvanized Steel Pipe 

• What is the average life expectancy of galvanized steel pipe?

• Why is old galvanized steel water pipe a problem for homebuyers?

• What is a galvanized nipple? 

• Should I buy a house with galvanized steel water pipes? 

• Can galvanized steel pipe still be used for new water lines in a house?  

Orangeburg (bituminous fiber) Pipe 

• What is the average life expectancy of Orangeburg (bituminous fiber) pipe? 

• Why is Orangeburg sewer pipe a problem and how do I know if I have it?

PEX Pipe

• What is the average life expectancy of PEX pipe? 

• Can PEX pipe be installed outside?  

• Is PEX pipe freeze resistant?

PB (Polybutylene) Pipe 

• What does polybutylene pipe look like? Why is it a problem? 

• Does a "QEST" brand mark on pipe mean that it is polybutylene (PB)?

PVC Pipe 

• What is the average life expectancy of PVC pipe? 

• Why is sunlight exposure bad for PVC pipe? 

• Why can't PVC be used for water pipe inside a house? 

• What is the difference between green and white sewer drain pipes? 

Commonly Used Pipes By Decade

• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1950s residential plumbing?

• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1960s residential plumbing? 

• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1970s residential plumbing? 

• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1980s residential plumbing? 

• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1990s residential plumbing? 

• What type of water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used in the 2000s? 

• What type of water supply and drain (DWV) pipes are commonly used today?

    Visit our LIFE EXPECTANCY and PLUMBING pages for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.