Galvanized plumbing lines - where'd the water go?

Many homes in West Texas that were built 60 + years ago have or had galvanized plumbing supply lines installed. 
Much like other things in life that seemed like a good idea at the time, these lines were installed back then because they were assumed to be durable and relatively inexpensive.
Now, with lots of hindsight, we know that they are not so durable, and will cost today's homeowner lots of money to repair or replace.

The problem stems from how these pipes deteriorate: most of the rust you would anticipate from water + metal is contained inside the pipe - so as these plumbing lines deteriorate, rust builds up inside the pipe.

So, how can you tell if a home has galvanized plumbing lines installed?

The most common warning sign is usually limited plumbing supply - in other words, slow flow at a plumbing fixture or fixtures; Especially from  the hot water supply! If the home is from the 1960's or earlier, and you turn on the tap and water flow is weak, this could be a warning sign that the home has at least some galvanized supply lines.

A less common but more apparent warning sign is stained water coming from a faucet. Rust stained water can definitely indicate that these materials are present, and that there's a problem.

​Wondering what this looks like in real life? Check out the results of years of rust damage to the interior of galvanized plumbing lines: youtube.com/shorts/v4EzzabwCEg?feature=share     

Fixes to this issue are not usually cheap - the best fix is likely replacement! However, keep in mind that many of the materials and components used in older homes like this were not created to last forever; replacement and repair should be expected and planned for when buying any home - especially an older home in West Texas.