916-782-6616               916-489-0212             530-889-2898

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Whole House Repipes

When Should I Repipe My Home?

If you are thinking about Repiping your home the First question you should ask is Why? There are many reasons you may want to repipe your home, but in our experience these are probaly the most common. Feel free to call ROOTER GUYS with any questions you may have about all this information.

• Leaky Pipes:  You have sprung a leak under your homes slab,or in your main water service, and the pipe material is Old Galvanized Piping.
• I have already had the pipes under my homes concrete slab repaired once and it was very messy. And since then we have had new floors installed.
• Low Water Pressure:  The water pressure is very low and I can't run the washing machine and take a shower at the same time.
• Rust colored water:  My clothes are getting stained when I use my washing machine.
• I am being scalded or frozen in my shower. When my sprinkler system comes on, I have no water pressure in my house.
•  I have brown, ugly water coming from my bathtub and/or shower.
• The water that comes from my kitchen faucet and the ice from my refrigerator smells funny.
• I hardly have any hot water flowing thru any plumbing fixture in my home.
• My hot water heater is making alot of funny noises.
• Ongoing Health and Safty Risks:  Because we have heard there is no protection against pipe corrosion and the water will eventually absorb material from the pipe as they corrode over time, it could be unhealthy for us to drink.

These are just some of the many reasons customers have given us for wanting or needing to repipe their homes!

What Type Of Pipe Should I Use To Repipe My Home?

That's a great question. One that is asked all the time! Generally the most common types of piping being used in homes today are:

• COPPER PIPE      
• CPVC PIPE
• PEX PIPE

Some Facts About Copper Pipe:

By far the most tried and true method of conveying water within buildings and homes is by way of copper piping. Copper is used in more than 85% of all U.S homes, and for good reason! With its dependable lead-free solder connections, copper plumbing can outlast the life of your home.

Benefits Of Copper Pipe:

Copper systems require no maintenance. Joint fittings won't break down or pull apart. Copper meets or exceeds building codes in all 50 states and its governed by strict, long established standards.

Copper Tube And Fittings Won't Become Brittle With Age:  No cracking or crumbling years after installation. All plumbers know how to install, repair and test it year-round in any climate. It won't sag over long runs, requires few supports. It can handle extreme conditions and it will withstand more than 1,000 pounds of pressure per square inch,10 to 20 times normal system pressure.

For Your Safety:  Copper pipe won't melt, burn or give off toxic fumes in a home fire. In homes tragically destroyed by fire, many times the only thing left intact is the copper plumbing. Copper pipe is also preferred for fire sprinkler systems. It maintains pressure when subjected to flames and it does not burn thru walls or floors, a problem with plastics that often causes fire to spread.

For Your Health:  Copper pipe is impermeable and biostatic. Contaminants cannot penetrate it, and it actually inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. Copper is natural, environmentally friendly material-not a synthetic. Copper is not only a natural ore, it is actually good for human beings in small amounts. In fact, the U.S National Academy of Sciences' Food and Nutrition Board recommends 0.9 mg of copper daily for both men and women. Copper is a natural, environmentally friendly material.

For Your Money:  A whole house copper repipe probably will cost more money versus plastic due to the fact that it costs more to purchase the material and involves more labor to install, but the benifits of lasting a life-time and no after insallation repair cost may outweigh the initial  added cost of material & labor to do a whole house copper repipe.

Copper May Be The Answer:  According to a 1996 study, the overwhelming majority of home plumbing contractors in the USA prefer copper piping. More than 9 out of 10 plumbers have it in their own homes. Copper piping has proven itself in American homes for more than 70 years. Not only does the vast majority of home owners and plumbers prefer copper, so do commercial building owners, builders, remodelers, plumbing officials, mortgage lenders and real estate agents. A copper plumbing system adds value to your home when it comes time to sell--just ask your local real estate agent.

Draw-Backs To Copper Piping: 

Copper piping should not be installed where there is corrosive water that has a PH of 6.5 or less. The majority of public utilities supply water at a PH between 7.2 and 8.0 . Many of the utilities that have source water at a PH below 6.5 are treating the water to raise the PH. If you have a private well water system with a PH below 6.5 and you want to have a copper repipe, you would need to have your water tested and install a treatment system to make the water less acidic.

Some Facts About Pex Pipe:

Pex is an acronym for cross-linked polyethylene. The "PE" refers to the raw material used to make Pex (Polyethylene), and the "X" refers to the cross-linking of the Polyethylene across its molecular chains. The molecular chains are linked into a three-dimensional network that makes PEX remarkably durable with a wide range of temperatures, pressures and chemicals.

Benefits Of Pex Pipe:

PEX Is Flexible:   And can turn 90 degree corners without any fittings, it comes in spools and can be installed in long runs without the need for any couplings. 

PEX Requires:  Use of less fittings that are easier to install.

Attaching PEX Tube To Fittings:   Does not require soldering and so it is safer to install since a torch is not needed to make connections.

PEX Resists Scale Build-up:  Common with copper pipe and does not pit or corrode when exposed to acidic water.

PEX Is Much More Resistant:  To freeze-breakage than copper or rigid plastic pipe.

PEX Tubing:  Does not transfer heat as readily as copper, and so conserves energy.

Water Flows More Quietly:  Through PEX tube and the characteristic "Water Hammer" noise of copper pipe systems is virtually eliminated.

PEX Material:  Is less expensive than copper piping.

Less Time Is Spent:  Running PEX pipe and installing fittings than with rigid piping systems.

It Is A Good Choice:   For a home that is on a water well system or a home that has a water PH of below 6.5 . Therefore no expensive water treatment system would be required in this situation.

Draw-Backs To PEX Pipe:

It is a synthetic type pipe. (Man Made)

Some say it is Environmentally Destructive:  Since these materials do not biodegrade easily, they put a strain on landfills and the local environment.

It is not authorized by all Counties, Cities and/or State Building officials.  Where it is authorized, it requires different more costly tests to pass local building inspection.

Not all plumbers are certified for installation and do not carry the tools or fittings required to make repairs.

Its easy to puncture with a nail or screw and rodents are known to chew holes in it to get a drink, therefore creating damage to property and expensive repair bills.

Contaminants and harmful bacteria can grow and thrive inside plastic and poly type pipes.

It will melt, burn and gives off toxic fumes if a home is tragically destroyed by fire.

It can burn through walls or floors, a phenomenon that often causes fire to spread.

The Repipe Process:

After scheduling your free repipe consultation ROOTER GUYS will come to your home to speak with you about your repipe project. During your repipe consultation we will discuss material options, how the old pipes will be accessed and what, if any, fixtures will be replaced during your repipe such as faucets, tub/shower valves and/or water heaters. Then a firm quote for your repipe will be provided to you. Then we will collect a deposit for the repipe project. We will then order all materials and discuss available dates to start your project.

The Time Line:

In order that we stay on time, projects will not be started untill all necessary permits are obtained, all material is ordered and we have their due dates.

On the start date ROOTER GUYS will walk you through any steps you will need to take to prepare the site in order to protect your furniture, walls, floors, etc. ROOTER GUYS will cover all your belongings including your carpeting that cannot be removed from the work areas with plastic and all mess created during access will be cleaned every day before leaving your home. This is the messiest part of the project and usually only lasts for one day! The old pipes are then removed. You can expect to be without water from one to two days, depending on the size of your home, during the removal and installation process.

Installation:  The pipes in your home are replaced, one section at a time, starting with one bathroom and the kitchen. Floors and countertops are always covered to prevent any damage. This would be a good time to consider adding a hot water return line (recirculation line), replace existing shower valves or any other fixtures. Estimates for any additional work can be provided at any time during the process.

System Performance Test:  The newly installed system is then tested for proper function. Any necessarry adjustments are made to assure a safe and efficient performance. With the repipe complete, we can then call and schedule a city or county building inspection. After inspection we can then continue with the drywall patching and texture.

We know that this is a lot of information and that you will probably have some questions, So please fill free to call ROOTER GUYS any time.

(All Work Comes With A Satisfaction Guarantee And A Written Warranty)

    916-782-6616             916-489-0212                530-889-2898

  (Plumber Roseville CA)     (Plumber Sacramento CA)       (Plumber Placer County)

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