Older homes in the San Fernando Valley — primarily those built before the 1970s — frequently have original galvanized steel supply plumbing. Galvanized pipe corrodes from the inside out; over decades, interior corrosion reduces water pressure, discolors water, and eventually produces leaks. A whole-house repipe is the solution.
Signs Your Home Needs Repiping
Discolored water: Rust-colored or brownish water from hot water taps is a classic sign of galvanized corrosion. If it clears after running the tap for a minute, your hot water supply lines are rusting internally.
Low water pressure: Corrosion deposits reduce pipe interior diameter over decades. If your pressure has dropped noticeably or is noticeably lower than neighbors, internal restriction is a likely cause.
Frequent pinhole leaks: Galvanized pipe failure often manifests as pinhole leaks that must be repaired repeatedly. If you've had multiple plumbing leaks in the same period, the pipe is at the end of its life.
Age: If your home was built before 1970 and the plumbing has never been replaced, the galvanized supply lines are 50+ years old — beyond their design life.
What a Repipe Involves
A whole-house repipe replaces all supply lines (the lines carrying pressurized water from the meter to fixtures) throughout the home. Drain lines (DWV — drain, waste, vent) may or may not be replaced at the same time.
The repipe process:
- A licensed plumber maps the existing supply system
- New pipe is routed through walls, attic, and crawl space (typically alongside the old pipe rather than pulling old pipe first)
- Wall openings are made at each fixture location to connect the new lines
- The old system is disconnected at the meter, the new system is connected
- Walls are patched and repaired
Modern repipe materials: copper (traditional, long-lasting, more expensive) or PEX (cross-linked polyethylene — flexible, freeze-resistant, increasingly preferred for ease of installation). PEX has become the dominant repipe material in the Valley.
A typical repipe takes 2–4 days for an average home, with limited water service interruption.
What Repiping Costs in Los Angeles
| Home Size | Copper Repipe | PEX Repipe | |-----------|--------------|------------| | Small (under 1,200 sq ft) | $8,000–$14,000 | $5,000–$9,000 | | Medium (1,200–2,000 sq ft) | $12,000–$22,000 | $7,000–$14,000 | | Large (2,000+ sq ft) | $18,000–$35,000 | $12,000–$22,000 |
Prices include all supply line replacement, wall openings and patching, and permit. Does not include drain line replacement.
Drain Line Replacement
Cast iron drain lines in pre-1970 homes are less urgent to replace than galvanized supply lines — cast iron drains fail differently (cracking and root intrusion rather than corrosion closure) and many original cast iron systems remain functional for 80+ years.
However, if drain lines are failing (slow drains, root intrusion, visible corrosion), ABS plastic replacement is the standard approach. Drain line replacement adds $5,000–$15,000 to a full repipe scope.
Permit Requirements
Whole-house repipe requires a plumbing permit in all LA jurisdictions. The permit process involves inspection of the new work before walls are closed. A licensed C-36 plumbing contractor must pull the permit.
For plumbing and repipe work as part of a renovation in Los Angeles, contact us.
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