Signs a house needs new pipes
- Leaks that return in different places within a year or two.
- Brown or orange water from the tap, especially after the water has sat.
- Low pressure at several fixtures even when the street pressure is fine.
- Visible corrosion, green stains or flaking at joints.
- Galvanized steel supply pipe, common in older homes, that has narrowed inside.
Pipe materials compared
| Material | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| PEX | Flexible, fewer joints, resists freezing splits better than rigid pipe | Must be protected from sunlight and some chemicals |
| Copper | Long record and durable | Can pit in aggressive water and costs more |
| CPVC | Rigid plastic that handles hot water | Can become brittle with age |
| Galvanized steel | Used in older homes | Rusts and narrows from inside, so is typically replaced |
What age says about the pipes in El Reno houses
El Reno was incorporated in 1890 and grew along the railroad and Route 66, so the housing stock spans more than a century. Houses from before the mid twentieth century may still carry galvanized steel, and homes built in the 1970s to 1990s may have copper or polybutylene, a gray plastic pipe that was widely installed in that era and later withdrawn.
If you do not know what you have, look where pipe enters the water heater or runs through an unfinished space. Copper is brown or green, galvanized is gray and threaded, and PEX is red, blue or white plastic. A plumber can identify what is behind the walls with an inspection.
PEX tubing should carry the ASTM F876 and F877 markings, copper tube should be marked to ASTM B88, and the installation as a whole must follow the International Plumbing Code (IPC).
Want a repiping plan?
Call the line and describe the house. A plumber can be scheduled the same day when available.
How a repipe is planned and done
Walkthrough
The plumber counts fixtures, finds the pipe paths and checks access.
Quote
You get a clear price and a schedule before any wall is opened.
Install
New lines go in, often through attics and small wall openings.
Test and patch
The system is pressure tested, then openings are closed. Drywall finishing may be separate.
What to expect at home
Water is shut off during parts of the work, so plan for a day or more without it, depending on the size of the house. Move furniture away from walls where access is needed, and protect valuables from dust.
Ask the plumber how openings will be patched, whether painting is included, and when inspections happen. Permit rules vary, so ask El Reno Community Development at 405-262-2000.
What affects the cost of a repipe
Repiping questions
Repeated leaks in different places, widespread corrosion or a known failing material point to repiping. A single failure in sound pipe is usually a repair.
Most houses take a few days, but it depends on size and access. The plumber should give a schedule with the price.
Not usually. Water is off during connections and may be restored at day's end, depending on how the plumber stages the work.
Often, yes. Rules vary, so ask El Reno Community Development at 405-262-2000 or ask the plumber to confirm in writing.
Repiping is planned work, but our line is open 24/7 if a failing pipe is flooding the house. The first step then is stopping the water.
Related services
Under the floor
Slab leak repair covers reroutes on slab homes.
Outside lines
Water line repair replaces the pipe from the meter.
Fixtures
Plumbing installation handles fixtures during a remodel.