Because water pipes don’t last forever!!!
Just like paint, roofing, or any other part of a home water pipes need replacement. Whether your pipes are copper or galvanized steel, at some point they will fail, and the best time to replace them is before they start causing damage and racking up multiple repair costs.
How to tell if water pipes need replacement
It’s not always easy to tell the condition of a pipe from the outside. Normally before leaks develop there is corrosion happening inside of there pipe. Many times if leaks develop it is a sign that the entire system is beginning to fail because all of the pipe is most likely the same age and has had the same water running through it. Leaks are not the only reason to repipe. The pipe in the picture above was someones water line. The rust and corrosion on the inside restricts the flow of water and was also flaking off which clogged up aerators on faucets and was ruining cartridges in shower valves and faucets, not to mention their drinking water is running through it.
What type of material is used to repipe water lines?
PVC is normally used on the outside of the house and copper or pex is used inside. Pex is a cost effective and easy to install material and has a good track record. Copper is more expensive and takes longer to install but is a great choice. A combination of pex and copper is what we normally use to give some of the good qualities of copper withouts breaking the bank. Normally we stub copper out of the walls or floor for faucets and toilets because it is not flexible and looks straight coming out of the wall, we also use it many times on shower valves to give a more solid feel. Either way you can’t go wrong and will end up with a job that will give you peace of mind for years to come!
Why choose Optimized?
There is a difference!!! When comparing companies quality matters. A repipe job is only as good as the installation. Our training sets us apart. You can see in the picture above a Moen positemp shower valve that has been blocked for support. The copper joints are clean and shiny. You can see solder all of the way around and the cups are full. The solder is on the pipe and fittings where it should be and not dripping down the pipe. We take the time to do it right!! The copper pipe and fittings are cleaned, deburred, fluxed, and heated properly to create a joint that looks good and lasts. The cartridge is pulled before soldering and then re-installed to protect it from the heat of the torch. All of these steps make a quality job that will give you peace of mind.
What should be included with a water line re-pipe job?
Normally replacement is needed from the water meter through the house to each fixture including the angle stop shutoff valves and flex lines to faucets or toilets. Shower valves normally should be re-done at the same time and can sometimes be accesses from the back side of the wall to save tile or a shower enclosure from being ripped out. If you are thinking about a water filter it’s good to install it at the same time as the re-pipe is done.
Will the house have to be torn apart to install new water pipes?
Normally the new pipes can be run in a crawl space or attic and very little drywall tear out and repair is required. Most of the work can be done while leaving your water on so you can still live in your house while work is being complete. The water is normally turned off in the morning and back on in the afternoon on the last day of work.
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