Shut the main valve and call (413) 603-1274. We fix the leak and dry the damage first. Then we can talk about whether the old pipes need replacing so it does not happen again.
Signs your pipes are past their life
- Leaks in different places, one after another
- Pinhole leaks in copper lines, often with green crust around them
- Rusty or brown water when a tap first opens
- Low pressure that keeps getting worse, especially upstairs
- Galvanized steel pipes with rust at the threaded joints
- Pipes that froze and split more than once
One repair does not mean repiping. Several leaks in a few years usually do. See copper pinhole leaks in older Chicopee homes.
Pipes in Chicopee houses
The median Chicopee home was built in 1958, and a quarter were built before 1940. Houses from those years usually started with galvanized steel water pipes, later patched or partly replaced with copper. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside and narrows over decades, which causes low pressure and leaks at the threads. Older copper can develop pinholes. Many houses now have a mix of all three, plus newer PEX where someone fixed a burst.
Spot repair or repipe?
- Repair when the leak is a single failure in otherwise sound pipe, such as a freeze split
- Replace a run when one section, such as the line to the kitchen or the outdoor faucet, keeps failing
- Repipe when leaks keep showing up in different places, or the whole house has old galvanized lines
We tell you which applies and the price before work starts.
What repiping involves
- Plan the route. New lines usually run through the basement and up through closets and existing chases, to keep wall openings small.
- Choose the material. PEX or copper, depending on the house and the budget. PEX handles freezing better than copper but still needs protection.
- Replace the main valve with a full-port ball valve while the water is off. See gate valve vs ball valve.
- Connect fixtures with new shut-off valves.
- Test under pressure before walls are closed.
- Patch openings and restore finishes.
Repiping in multi-family homes
In two- and three-deckers, each unit may be fed by its own line, or the lines may be shared. We plan the work so each unit loses water for as short a time as possible and the owner knows the schedule for tenants.
PEX or copper?
| PEX | Copper | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Flexible, snakes through walls with fewer openings | Rigid, needs more access and soldering |
| Freezing | Handles a freeze better, though fittings can still fail | Splits when water inside freezes |
| Cost | Usually less | Usually more |
| Exposure | Must be kept out of sunlight | Fine exposed |
Many repipes use PEX for runs inside walls and keep copper at exposed connections like the water heater. The right choice depends on the house, and Massachusetts plumbing code sets what is allowed where.
Galvanized steel pipe
Some older Chicopee homes still have galvanized steel water pipe, sometimes mixed with copper from later repairs. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside, narrowing until pressure drops and water runs brown. Joints where galvanized meets copper corrode faster. If your water pressure is weak at upstairs fixtures and you see gray threaded pipe in the basement, galvanized is the likely cause, and replacement is usually the fix.
Will my walls be torn apart?
Usually not as much as people expect. Plumbers run new lines through basements, closets and the floor below where they can, and make small openings at fixtures. In older plaster homes we plan openings to keep patching to a minimum. A repipe is often done in stages, and water is usually off only during working hours. If you already have walls open after a burst, that is the cheapest time to replace the pipe behind them.
What a repipe usually includes
- New supply lines from the main to every fixture
- New fixture shut-off valves at sinks and toilets
- A new quarter-turn main valve if the old one is a gate valve
- Pipe insulation on runs near outside walls and the sill
- Pressure testing before any wall is closed
- The plumbing permit and inspection
Patching and painting the openings is a separate line on the estimate. Ask for it in writing so nothing is a surprise.
Repiping questions
How long does a repipe take?
A single-family house is often a few days. Water is usually restored at the end of each day.
Is PEX safe for drinking water?
PEX is approved for drinking water in Massachusetts plumbing when it is a listed product installed to code.
Does insurance pay for repiping?
Usually not. Policies cover sudden water damage, not replacing old pipes. The damage from a burst may be covered. See does insurance pay for the pipe or just the damage.
Tired of chasing leaks? Call
Call (413) 603-1274. Locally owned in Chicopee. See all services.