What are the signs a house needs repiping?
- Leaks that keep coming back. A second or third leak in different places means the pipe is thinning everywhere.
- Rusty, brown or yellow water, mostly first thing in the morning or after you have been away.
- Low pressure in the whole house that has crept up over years.
- Pressure that drops hard when a second tap or the washing machine runs.
- Water that tastes or smells of metal.
- Visible rust, flaking or crust on the pipes at the water heater or under the house.
- Green or white spots on copper, the mark of pinhole leaks starting.
- Original pipes in a home built before about 1960.
Which pipe materials wear out?
Galvanized steel rusts from the inside until it clogs and leaks. It was standard until about 1960. See galvanized pipe replacement. Copper lasts much longer but can thin and develop pinhole leaks late in its life. Polybutylene, a gray plastic pipe used in some homes from the late 1970s to the mid 1990s, is known for failing at its fittings.
Is one leak enough to repipe?
No. One leak in pipe that is otherwise sound is a repair. The question is what the pipe looks like inside. When we cut out a leaking section, we can see how much wall is left and how much rust has built up, and we show you.
How does a plumber check?
We look at the pipe where it can be seen: at the water heater, under sinks, in the crawl space or garage. We measure the pressure where water enters and at the fixtures. We ask about the leak history. Together those tell us whether the system has years left or is at the end.
What happens if I wait?
Worn pipe does not get better. Leaks come more often, and each one can damage walls, floors and cabinets. Pressure keeps falling. Planning a repipe is nearly always cheaper and calmer than doing it after a flood.
What is the next step?
A free estimate. We price a full repipe and, where it makes sense, a staged plan or a repair, so you can compare. When the job needs a permit, we pull it. Much of Hayward, San Lorenzo, San Leandro and Castro Valley was built in the galvanized years, so this is work we do often.
Who is Friendly Services?
A family-owned plumbing company with over 20 years in Hayward. License CSLB #1156315 (C-36 plumbing), $1M general liability cover and workers' comp. Our own work has a five-year workmanship warranty, and we have 100+ five-star reviews online.