Signs a house is due

  • More than one pinhole leak in the same few years
  • Galvanized steel supply pipe, which closes up with scale from the inside
  • Rust or a metallic taste in the water
  • Pressure that drops when a second fixture runs
  • Polybutylene pipe, often gray with crimped fittings
  • A service line that has been repaired more than once

What a repipe involves

A repipe replaces the supply lines that feed the fixtures. The plumber maps the runs, opens access where it is needed, installs new pipe, then repairs the openings. In a slab house the new lines often run overhead through the attic and drop down inside walls, which avoids breaking concrete.

The materials on the table are copper and PEX. Copper is rigid, long proven and priced by the metals market. PEX is flexible, faster to install with fewer joints, and it suits reruns through finished spaces. A plumber who works on your street knows what holds up here, so ask what they use and why.

A partial repipe is a real option. If one run has caused the leaks, replacing that run costs far less than the house. Ask for both prices in the estimate.

What a written estimate should say

Repiping is a job worth comparing on paper. A useful estimate names:

  • Which lines are replaced and which stay
  • The material and the fitting method
  • How many access openings, and who repairs them
  • Whether drywall repair, texture and paint are included
  • Permits and inspection, which apply to this kind of work
  • How long the water is off and how many days the crew is on site
  • What happens to the old pipe

Common questions

How long does a repipe take?

It depends on the size of the house, the number of fixtures and how much access the plumber needs. The estimate should say how many days and how long the water is off on each one.

Copper or PEX?

Both are accepted materials with long records. Copper is rigid and handles heat well. PEX is flexible, has fewer joints and moves through finished walls with less damage. Ask the plumber which they install here and what the warranty covers.

Do I have to move out?

In most cases no. The water goes off during working hours and comes back on before the crew leaves. Ask about that up front if the house is occupied.

Does repiping need a permit?

Work of this size is permitted and inspected in most places. The licensed company pulls the permit. If an estimate leaves permits out, ask why.