What the days usually feel like
A repipe tends to move in stages: protection and openings, running new lines, connecting fixtures, testing and inspection, then patching. During much of the work the old system can keep supplying water, so shutoffs are often limited to the connection stages. That varies by house and crew, so ask for the plan.
Expect noise from cutting drywall, people moving through the attic, and some dust even with good protection. Rooms with plumbing walls, like bathrooms, the kitchen and the laundry, see the most activity.
A typical sequence
Order and length vary. Ask your contractor for their version.
- Start
- Floors and furniture covered; access openings cut in walls and ceilings.
- Install
- New lines run through the attic and down walls to each fixture location.
- Switch over
- Fixtures connected to the new system; water off for periods.
- Test
- New system pressure tested and inspected if a permit applies.
- Finish
- Openings patched and the house cleaned up.
Prepare the house
- Clear under sinks, linen closets and the laundry area.
- Move furniture and wall hangings away from plumbing walls.
- Clear a path to the attic access and the water heater.
- Plan for pets to be secured away from open doors and work areas.
- Store drinking water for planned shutoff periods.
- Ask about parking and where materials will be staged.
Should you stay elsewhere?
- IfSomeone at home is sensitive to dust or noiseThenConsider staying elsewhere during the cutting and patching days.
- IfYou work from homeThenAsk which days are loudest and plan around them.
- IfYou have only one bathroomThenAsk how long it will be without water and plan accordingly.
Questions to ask before day one
- Which days will water be off, and for roughly how long?
- How will you protect floors and contain dust?
- Who is my point of contact on site each day?
- Will you leave the house with working water every evening?
Common questions
Will I have water at night?
Many contractors aim to restore water at the end of each day. Ask for that in writing if it matters to you.
How long does a repipe take?
It depends on the house, material and inspection timing. This guide does not quote durations; ask each contractor.
Is the attic work safe for my insulation?
Ask how the crew moves through the attic and whether disturbed insulation will be restored.
General information for Yorba Linda, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.