How to Repipe a House – Assessing Your Plumbing
This is our first part in a series on "How to Repipe a House?" We will be following up with further articles that examine specific details along the way.
How to repipe a house is going to differ from situation to situation. How much plumbing needs to be replaced, what can be repaired without replacement, what kind of plumbing it is, and what types of pipe you will be replacing it with can all dramatically alter the costs and amount of time involved. In some cases you can even be better off leaving the old plumbing in place and just running new lines altogether. This is often the best option when dealing with slab leaks for instance.
Because of this variation the first step in how to repipe a house is to identify the plumbing problems that need to be addressed. Are pinhole leaks always popping up? Are pipes rattling when you run water? Is the water quality diminished? By looking at the problems in this way you can determine how extensive the problems are, and localizing problems can save you a huge amount of money and hassle sometimes.
It may just be that you need to replace the pipes in a couple of places. Sometimes, you may only need to better secure the pipes to keep them from rattling and vibrating and thus causing stress on the pipe joints. (Not to mention your ears!) This can reduce a job from months of renovations on your house and thousands of dollars to a weekend and a couple hundred bucks. So take your time assessing the problem and get the opinion of multiple professional plumbers before even starting on the repiping project.
Types of Problems that Require Repiping
There are several different piping problems that can lead to repiping being necessary. Knowing which one you are dealing with, and how to best deal with that specific problem, is going to determine the best way to repipe your house.
Pinhole Leaks
Professional plumbers will often give you a free evaluation of your situation. You can get more than one opinion and quote before deciding on what needs to be done, and who will do it. You can save thousands of dollars in some cases by doing so. So take the time to get your home's plumbing problems accurately assessed, as well as to find out what your options are!
One of the more common problems with older pipes is the formation of pinhole leaks. These often occur on joints where over time small vibrations or other stresses have caused a crease to form in the metal. Corrosion works on these small imperfections and eventually a small hole forms. They are most likely to form in hot water pipes because of the expansion (heating) and contracting (cooling) of the metal.
Pinhole leaks usually do not require extensive repiping as they are very localized problems. Replacing the joints can often be a very simple process. When fixing pinhole leaks it is a good idea to try to track down the cause so they can be avoided in the future. This could mean replacing lengths of pipe that were poorly installed in such a way as to add stress on the joints, or it could be as simple as supporting the pipes with better fasteners.
In some cases pinhole leaks can be indicative of a system wide problem though. Over time corrosion can weaken pipes, and if it's doing so evenly across the plumbing system then the formation of pinhole leaks can mean that it's time to repipe the whole thing. Otherwise the leaks will just keep popping up over and over again and fixing it piecemeal will take more time and effort than to do it all at once.
Slab Leaks
Perhaps the worst type of problem that can pop up for a home owner is a slab leak. This is where a leak occurs somewhere inside a concrete slab that the pipes are encased in. Not only does this make fixing the leak very difficult, it can be hard just to find out where it is occurring. The water from the leak can travel along the pipe for quite a ways before finding cracks in the cement to flow to the surface from.
There is equipment that can be used to track down the source of the slab leak so that you don't have to rip up all the cement to get to it. The use of these leak locators can save you a lot of money by doing so. However, it can still be prohibitively expensive even to fix the pipes in a defined area of a concrete slab.
Often the cost is so great that it just makes more sense to leave the old piping in the slab and run new water lines through the framing of the house instead. This way you won't find yourself having to jack hammer through sections of your flooring to get at each new leak that springs up.
Copper Repiping – Copper, PVC, or PEX … and Other Considerations
Copper repiping refers to replacing the older pipes in your home with copper ones. Generally the pipes to replace are anodized steel or iron and zinc plated pipes, which were used commonly in older homes. While these types of pipes can still be in good repair, they often suffer from corrosion (rust) problems. This can lead to poor fitting joints or even cracks in the pipes themselves.
It can also lead to poor water quality. As the steel rusts, bits of the rust can flake off into the water. In the worst cases this causes the water to turn reddish, but even if there is no visible difference there may still be particles. This can be somewhat of a health concern if it is drinking water that isn't filtered at some point.
Copper pipes on the other hand have high corrosion resistance. Replacing older steel pipes with new copper tubing can help guard your home against water damage, as well as to improve the quality of the water. This is the main reason why copper repiping is such a common plumbing project on older homes.
Can Copper Repiping Guard Against Slab Leaks?
When pipes are encased in cement it makes repairs and replacements much more difficult. Because of this, slab leaks are a major concern for home owners. By making sure that the pipes which pass through slabs of cement are of high quality, you can help avoid costly repairs later on.
For copper repiping jobs, this may mean having to tear up the slab in some cases. Usually though, the pipes you will need to replace shouldn't be too difficult to get at while only impacting a small area of the slab. This is because water delivery lines very rarely travel horizontally through a slab. Instead they are suspended below it in a crawlspace and only pass through the slab vertically.
This is different than with hydronic heating systems, which often have the pipes embedded within the slab. In cases of leaks in such a system, it can be very difficult to find and replace the defective pipes. Generally speaking, hydronic systems do not use copper pipe, but rather PEX or some other flexible piping material.
Cost of Copper Repiping
Copper is a somewhat expensive material, and with all the difficulties in getting to the pipes in the walls and floors, then fixing it all up afterward, repiping your home can be a very expensive project. It's not uncommon for it to cost several thousands of dollars. Sometimes though you can get away with only replacing some of the pipes in your home. This can dramatically bring down the cost of the project, but may leave you in the situation where you will need to upgrade more of the pipes later on.
In the long run, upgrading your pipes piecemeal as they fail is probably the most expensive option. Not only do you have to open up the walls and floors multiple times, but you will also have more fittings to buy than if you replace it all at once. These extra fittings and joints can increase the likelihood of leaks forming over time as well, increasing maintenance costs.
Alternatives to Copper Pipes
Generally speaking, copper is the material of choice for plumbing. It can be difficult to work with, and expensive though. If copper is a bit too expensive for your tastes, or if you don't feel comfortable using a blowtorch in cramped spaces on a DIY project, there are other options that can be good options too.
PEX Tubing for Simplicity and Flexibility
PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is a flexible tubing material that works great for water delivery systems. Because of it's flexibility it isn't prone to cracking or bursting when water freezes, which while not much of a consideration in Los Angeles or other areas which rarely see freezing temperatures, it can be a big plus in it's favor if you live in colder climates.
Plumbing with PEX is also a pretty easy process. Fittings designed for PEX installations are easy to work with and leaks can quickly be fixed. This is in contrast to copper piping, where soldering joints can be a difficult thing to do, especially in tight spaces where the torch can damage other plastic pipes, insulation, wood framing, or wiring.
Polybutylene
Polybutylene is another option that isn't as commonly used these days. Developed in the 70's, it was once touted as the plumbing material of the future. The problem with polybutylene is that it often springs leaks. In fact, repiping projects are often replacing polybutylene pipes, rather than installing them.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Water Pipes
PVC is another type of pipe that is common in water delivery and waste water systems. PVC is a rigid material that does well so long as it's kept out of direct sunlight. Ultraviolet light can degrade PVC, and so if you must use it in areas where it would receive sunlight, it's best to use uPVC instead. This is PVC that has been treated to be resistant to ultraviolet light.
While PVC is rigid at room temperatures, it becomes flexible when heated. This can allow for the pipe to be bent into shape, reducing the need for fittings. This can greatly reduce the incidence of leak because there are much fewer joints. Installation of PVC is rather simple, though it can take quite a bit of practice to form the PVC when hot. Too hot and the PVC will be weakened or even boil or catch on fire. Not hot enough and the PVC won't flex into the proper shape.
What is Hydronic Heating?
What is hydronic heating you ask? Well, it's the use of water (hydro) or other liquid to transfer heat from a heat source to rooms. To do this, the water, often in the form of steam, is sent from a boiler through pipes to it's destination. There it is run through radiators which allow the heat to transfer to the room.
Naturally, this type of heating via radiator is often referred to as radiant heating. While there are different types of radiant heating, in most home applications there will be hydronic systems driving them.
What are Some Benefits of Hydronic Heating?
The radiators in such a hydronic system can take many forms. Obviously the old steam radiators fit the bill. What about using the floorboards, walls, ceiling, or even the entire floor as a radiator though? This is often how modern hydronic heating systems handle it, as it helps to more evenly apply heat throughout the area.
This potential for even distribution of heat is one of the main benefits of hydronic heating systems. Forced air relies on the placement of vents and air circulation, and as such can create hot and cold spots in the room.
Another area where hydronic systems have an advantage over forced air is that they don't dry out the air as much as a forced air system.
What are the Drawbacks of Hydronic Heating?
Hydronic heating is a rather intricate system that needs to be balanced correctly to function well. Also, there are many components to a hydronic system, some of which are difficult to install in retrofit applications.
Because of this, it's important to carefully plan your hydronic heating system, as there can be a great many pitfalls that can arise in such a project. Not only does the heating system itself need to be designed well, but also the house itself can be a big factor in how well a hydronic heating system will function.
Another drawback to hydronic heating systems is that they don't actively circulate air like a forced air system will. While this can be a benefit as far as energy efficiency, it can also lead to stuffiness if no air circulation is provided for by other means.
Hydronic Heating and Cooling – Radiant Temperature Control
Here you will find an overview of hydronic heating and cooling systems. Designs, diagrams, and descriptions of components and concepts in hydronic systems.
- What is Hydronic Heating?
- How do Hydronic Heating and Cooling Systems Work?
- Hydronic System Diagrams and Plans
- Glossary for Hydronic Heating and Cooling Terms
Types of Hydronic Systems
- Steam
- One Pipe
- Two Pipe
- Direct
- Reverse Return
- Series Loop
- Hot Water
- Electric/Gas
- Solar
- Chilled Water
What Components Make Up Hydronic Systems?
- Boilers
- Heat Exchangers
- Pipes
- Pumps
- Radiators
- Thermostats
- Valves
Where can Hydronic Systems be Installed?
- New Construction
- Slab
- Retrofit
- Baseboards
- Walls
- Flooring
What Potential Problems Could Affect Hydronic Heating Systems?
- Air Infiltration
- Steam Systems
- Water-loop Systems
- Free Air
- Entrained Air
- Dissolved Air
- Corrosion
- Thermal Expansion
- Unbalanced
Maintenance Comparison of Hydronic Systems to Traditional Designs