What It Is
Repiping is the replacement of most or all of a home's water supply pipes when the existing pipes have corroded, corroded, or reached end of service life. It is most common in homes with galvanized steel pipes - typically installed before the 1970s - that have rusted from the inside, or in homes with aging copper that has developed recurring pinhole leaks. New pipe runs from the main supply through walls and ceilings to every fixture in the house.
What It Does
A repiping project eliminates the root cause of recurring leak problems, low water pressure, and discolored water caused by pipe deterioration. Rather than patching the same corroded pipes repeatedly, repiping replaces the entire supply system at once, giving the home a fresh plumbing infrastructure that should last several decades.
Older homes in Northeast Ohio frequently have galvanized steel pipes. Galvanized pipe corrodes from the interior, gradually restricting flow as rust builds up on the pipe walls. The result is progressively weaker water pressure that gets worse each year, along with reddish-brown water that stains fixtures and laundry. Once galvanized pipe reaches this stage, patching individual leaks does not solve the underlying corrosion problem.
Copper repiping is also done when pinhole leaks have become frequent enough that the cost of individual repairs exceeds the cost of replacing the pipes systematically. This is a judgment call that a plumber can help assess based on how many leaks have occurred and the overall condition of the pipe.
How It Works
A plumber maps out the existing supply lines and plans new routes through walls, floors, and ceilings. Small access holes are cut to thread the new pipe - modern PEX tubing is flexible enough to navigate around obstacles without as many cuts as rigid copper requires. The old pipes are typically left in place rather than removed, since removing them would require more wall demolition. New pipe runs from the main shutoff to a distribution manifold or directly to each fixture.
The water is shut off for most of the working day. At the end of each day the water is restored so the house is livable during a multi-day project. Once all runs are complete, each fixture is reconnected and the system is pressure-tested before the walls are closed.
Common Problems or Signs of Failure
- Consistently low water pressure throughout the house, not just at one fixture
- Reddish-brown or rusty colored water, especially first thing in the morning
- Recurring pinhole leaks in copper pipe - more than two or three in a year
- Visible orange-brown corrosion on pipe exterior in basement or crawl space
- Water pressure that has declined noticeably over several years
- Multiple patches or repair fittings on the same pipe run
Can a Homeowner Check It?
A homeowner can gather useful information before calling a plumber.
- Look at exposed pipes in the basement - galvanized pipe is dull gray and often shows orange rust stains at joints
- Run cold water in the morning and watch for discoloration in the first few seconds
- Note whether pressure has decreased steadily over the past few years
- Count how many leak repairs have been done in the past year - recurring leaks on the same system suggest systemic corrosion
When to Call a Plumber
If you have galvanized pipe and are experiencing any combination of low pressure, rust-colored water, or frequent leaks, a plumber can assess the pipe condition and give you an honest evaluation of whether repiping makes more financial sense than continued repairs. Repiping is a significant project, but it is often the more economical option once a house is patching the same pipes every year.
Related Plumbing Problems
- Why Is My Hot Water Rusty or Discolored?
- Why Is My Water Pressure Low?
- Do I Have a Hidden Water Leak?
Related Plumbing Terms
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