What a repipe is
In a whole-house repipe, new supply lines are run from the main shutoff to every fixture, typically through the attic and down inside walls. The old under-slab lines are disconnected and left in place, out of service. The result is a supply system that no longer depends on pipe buried in concrete.
Because the work touches most rooms, it is usually planned rather than done in a rush. Unless water is actively damaging the house, there is time to understand the recommendation, compare written bids and ask questions.
Signs a repipe deserves a serious look
- Two or more under-slab leaks in different places within a few years
- A plumber who has seen the exposed pipe describes it as thin, pitted or corroded along its length
- Leaks on both the hot and cold systems
- Low pressure or discolored water from aging supply pipe in addition to leaks
- A remodel already planned that will open walls anyway
How a repipe usually unfolds
Order and timing vary by contractor and house size.
- Before work
- Walkthrough, route planning, written scope and permit questions answered.
- Prep
- Furniture moved or covered, floors protected, water shut off for working periods.
- Rough-in
- Wall and ceiling openings made, new lines run and connected fixture by fixture.
- Testing
- New system pressure tested; any required inspection happens before walls close.
- Closing up
- Openings patched to the level agreed in the contract; old lines confirmed out of service.
Points to pin down in the contract
- Pipe material
- Which material will be used and why it suits your house.
- Route
- Attic, walls or both, and which rooms will be opened.
- Patching
- Rough close, finished drywall, texture and paint, or none.
- Water outages
- When the house will be without water and for how long each day.
- Permit
- Whether one is needed and who pulls it; check with the City of Anaheim.
Example: the third leak
Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.
A two-bath house has had spot repairs under the hallway and the kitchen. Now the meter is moving again and the leak is on the cold side under a bedroom.
- The homeowner closes the main between uses and books detection.
- Testing confirms a cold-side leak; the plumber notes the earlier repairs and the age of the copper.
- Two licensed plumbers are asked to quote both a spot repair and a repipe in writing.
- The homeowner compares the scopes, including patching and water outages.
With three leaks on the same original pipe, the homeowner chooses a planned repipe instead of a fourth slab opening. Illustrative example only.
Common questions
Does a repipe include the drains?
Usually not. A repipe normally refers to water supply lines. Drain and sewer lines are a separate system with separate issues.
Can I stay in the house during a repipe?
Many people do, with planned periods without water. Ask the contractor for a day-by-day plan.
Will a repipe stop all future slab leaks?
If all supply lines are moved out of the slab and the old lines are disconnected, there is no pressurized supply pipe left under the floor to leak. Confirm that is what the scope includes.
General information for Anaheim Hills, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.