Cincinnati Plumbing Repiping Services

Sometimes, leaking and damaged plumbing lines are corrected by simply replacing the damaged pipe section. However, there are certain situations where this isn’t the best solution. Instead, it may be preferred to replace all the pipes across the entire home. This upgrade of a home’s water supply piping is known as whole-house repiping.

Repiping is an option that needs to be evaluated for homes that were built prior to 1970. In pre-1970s homes, galvanized steel pipe is commonly still in place – this creates problems for Cincinnati homeowners, whether the issues are apparent already or not. Galvanized steel is affected by corrosion over time, causing water quality issues and damage to the piping, which allows leaks to form and possible water damage. These older pipes need to be replaced to avoid low water pressure and performance issues caused by the aging materials.

Newer homes aren’t totally in the clear, though. Polybutylene was a popular piping material installed from the 1970s through the 1990s. These pipes are highly prone to breakage and homes with old pipes made of polybutylene should have a whole house repipe project conducted to avoid future leaks, water damage, and disruptions to the home’s water supply. Even older copper pipes require replacement at some point, due to corrosion and pin-hole leaks that form over time.

For such an important and extensive home plumbing project, don’t trust the integrity of your home’s plumbing system to just anyone – turn to a plumbing company you trust to deliver value. Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing ensures complete satisfaction for all projects our plumbers perform. Material, service, and workmanship quality are always guaranteed in writing.

Contact Thomas & Galbraith today and request a free estimate for house repiping in Cincinnati.

Over time, the old pipes that transport water supply to a home’s plumbing taps and fixtures wear out and encounter age-related issues affecting their performance. When this point in time is reached, simple pipe repairs and spot replacements are no longer appropriate, and it’s prudent that all pipes throughout the whole house be upgraded.

Galvanized steel pipes are a popular target for a house repipe. Galvanized steel water supply pipes were only made to last around 50 years – Cincinnati homes with this pipe material still in use are far overdue for repiping. Older copper pipes can also be replaced through this type of plumbing work, and many homeowners are choosing cross-linked polyethylene flexible tube pipes (PEX) in favor of the older, rigid, and more costly material.

A house repipe is an extensive upgrade involving the entire water supply portion of a home’s plumbing system. The cost of a whole house repipe varies as no two houses have exactly the same project considerations, and project estimates greatly depend on the size of the home, configuration, and size of the plumbing system, piping material for installation, and the accessibility of old pipes. A repiping project completed with upgraded PEX pipes typically ranges between $4,000 and $6,000. Repiping with copper piping costs significantly more because of the material’s rigidity, requiring more invasive and time-consuming means for installation, as well as higher material costs.

Here are three factors to help you decide if repiping your home is a wise solution to problems posed by your existing water lines:

• Age of the home. Up through the mid-twentieth century, galvanized steel pipes were preferred for water supply lines. Though it is strong, galvanized steel’s integrity is diminished by corrosion after about 50 years. As this piping material fell out of favor by 1970, homes built 50+ years ago are due for repiping. Never homes aren’t exempt from pipe age issues, as no pipe material lasts forever – Cincinnati homeowners always need to be mindful of their plumbing systems and consider when infrastructure is due for replacement.
  
  
• Current plumbing issues. Do you need a plumber to make leak repairs on your pipes often? Do you experience plumbing issues like low water pressure? These issues are associated with aging pipes in need of replacement – consider investing the money you spend on frequent plumbing repairs toward house repipe service.
  
  
• Water quality. The water supply carries rust and minerals into piping, and over the years, this material accumulates within your home’s old pipes. As the buildup grows, the available space for water flow is restricted. Though it takes many years for this buildup to develop into noticeable low water pressure issues, once the pressure problem is apparent, it’s typically the right time to repipe. You’ll also notice red or brown water created by rust from corroded pipes. 

If any of these factors apply to your home, work with a plumbing professional to identify effective solutions for your Cincinnati home. A Thomas & Galbraith plumber inspects the condition of your plumbing pipes to determine if a whole house repipe will eliminate the quality issues you face without cutting the useful service life of existing infrastructure short. Get honest information from our plumbing professionals upfront so you are equipped to make sound choices as you address your home’s plumbing needs.

Find out if your Cincinnati home needs to be repiped – request a free estimate from Thomas & Galbraith today.

Before your house repipe project starts, your plumber is able to estimate the amount of time it will take to complete all repiping. The size of the home and its water supply plumbing system affect the installation timeline, and most projects require a few days up to a week of work to complete.

Thomas & Galbraith is always mindful of how repiping projects affect our customers, and we work to minimize disruption while getting the job done quickly. With your schedule in mind, we work to arrange portions of repiping that require water shut off for times when your home is typically unoccupied.

Cincinnati homeowners have concerns regarding the disruption to their interiors and the amount of demolition it takes to access hidden plumbing pipes for repiping. Thomas & Galbraith plumbers take care to utilize methods that minimize intrusive demolition and preserve your interiors.

Repiping an entire home can be a dirty job, so in order to protect your living areas and home contents, the first step of repiping is the placement of drop cloths and floor coverings.

Next, our plumbing team identifies where pipes run within the walls and makes strategic access cuts in the drywall to facilitate the removal of old pipes and installation of new ones. We take care to minimize disruptions and only remove just enough building material to allow adequate access into wall, ceiling, and floor cavities so that the necessary work can be performed.

The old pipes are disconnected and removed, and then new pipes are positioned and placed into service. While old pipes are upgraded, it’s also possible to make adjustments or improvements to the home’s water supply plumbing system. If you wish to remodel areas of the home or add new fixtures, our plumbers can make these accommodations at the same time, which saves you time and money in the future.

Once all new pipes are connected, and in place, access cuts in ceilings and walls must be repaired. Our team carefully patches and retextures drywall to leave no visible trace of our work behind. The site is cleaned up, and our plumbers leave you to enjoy the improved functionality of your new plumbing lines.