Old pipes leaking again?

Whole-house repiping and pipe replacement in Salem, OR

Does this sound like your situation?

If any of these match what's happening at your home, call us — we can usually diagnose over the phone and tell you whether it's worth coming out same-day.

Home built before 1970 with original plumbing
Rusty or discolored water, especially after not using a faucet for a while
Low water pressure throughout the house
Recurring pinhole leaks in copper
Galvanized steel pipes visible in your basement or crawlspace
Water pressure that drops when multiple fixtures run
High water bill with no visible leaks (hidden pinholes)

Most common causes

Galvanized steel pipes at end of life

Galvanized supply pipes were standard in Salem-area homes from the 1920s through the 1960s. The interior corrodes over time, restricting flow and releasing rust into the water. There's no repair for this — only replacement. If your home has original galvanized and you're doing other work, it's usually the right time to repipe.

Recurring copper pinhole leaks

Copper pipes installed in the 1970s–1990s sometimes develop pinhole leaks as they age, especially with certain water chemistries. One pinhole is a repair. Multiple pinholes in the same home over a short period is a signal that more are coming — repiping before the third or fourth leak is often cheaper than repair-by-repair.

Undersized supply lines

Older homes often have 1/2" supply pipes that can't deliver modern fixtures (rain showerheads, double-bathroom draws) without pressure drops. Repiping to 3/4" mains with 1/2" branches solves this while addressing age.

Remodel prep

Opening up walls for a remodel is the lowest-friction time to repipe. If you're doing a kitchen or bathroom remodel in a home with old plumbing, repiping at the same time costs a fraction of doing it standalone later.

A whole-house repipe is a big job. It's also one of the highest-value pieces of work you can do on an older Salem home — it solves water pressure issues, eliminates rust in the water, ends the leak-of-the-month pattern in failing copper, and sets your plumbing up for the next 50+ years.

When repiping is the right answer

We don't push repipes. Most of our customers don't need one. But if you're seeing two or more of these, it's worth a conversation:

Your home was built before 1970 and still has original galvanized pipes
You've had three or more pinhole leaks in copper pipes in recent years
Water pressure drops noticeably when more than one fixture runs
Hot water takes forever to arrive at the farthest bathroom
Water is rust-colored when a faucet has been sitting unused overnight

One repair on a 60-year-old galvanized line rarely fixes the underlying issue — the rest of the run is the same age. Spot repairs in that situation are a short-term patch that often costs more cumulatively than a repipe done once.

What a good repipe looks like

Every repipe we do includes:

Permit pulled with the City of Salem or county as applicable
Proper pipe sizing — usually 3/4" main, 1/2" branches (upsized where demand warrants)
Shutoff valves at every fixture (many older homes don't have them)
Proper insulation on any lines running through unconditioned space
Pressure test before drywall closes
Inspection by the permitting authority
Drywall patched (we include this or coordinate with your drywaller)
Written documentation of the work for your records

That's a standard we hold ourselves to on every job. It's also what makes the difference between a repipe that lasts and a repipe that creates new problems five years from now.

Here's how we work the job

We walk the home with you and map every fixture, run, and wall
We propose PEX or copper (we do both; we'll explain which fits your situation)
We pull the permit with the City of Salem or Marion County as applicable
We protect floors and walls, cover furniture, and minimize opening drywall
We run the new lines, tie to fixtures, pressure-test, and schedule inspection
We patch the openings we made (or coordinate a drywaller)
You're on the new system typically in 2–4 days for a 3-bedroom

What it typically costs

Whole-house repipe in Salem typically ranges $6,500–$14,000 depending on size, access, and drywall patching. PEX is usually 15–25% less than copper for an equivalent job. Homes with easy attic or crawlspace access quote lower than homes with slab construction. We quote after an on-site walk-through — no guesses over the phone.

Frequently asked questions

PEX or copper — which should I choose?

For most homes, PEX. It's been the industry standard for supply pipes in new construction for over 20 years, it resists freezing better, it's less expensive, and it's faster to install (which also means less drywall opened). Copper is still preferred in some situations — exposed runs where appearance matters, high-temperature applications, or where the homeowner specifically prefers it. We install both and will recommend based on your home's specifics.

Will my water pressure improve after a repipe?

Almost always, yes — often dramatically if you're coming from corroded galvanized. Old pipes restrict flow internally long before they start leaking. A repipe often adds 20–40% to effective flow rate even if the static pressure at the meter is unchanged.

How much drywall damage should I expect?

We plan runs to minimize wall openings — through attics, crawlspaces, and exposed basements where possible. Typically 8–15 small patches in a 3-bedroom home, most in closets, utility areas, or behind fixtures. We quote drywall patching as part of the job or coordinate with a drywaller you prefer.

Do I need a permit to repipe my own house?

In Salem and Marion County, yes. Supply pipe replacement requires a plumbing permit and inspection. We pull permits on every job — it protects you, it's required by code, and it's necessary for home insurance claims if anything ever goes wrong. Work done without permits can cause problems when you sell.

Can I stay in the house during a repipe?

Usually yes. We set up the work so you have water to at least one bathroom at all times overnight. Some days may have a few hours with water shut off mid-day while we tie in new lines; we always coordinate with you. For most 3-bedroom homes, the disruption is manageable.

Is this a good time to add anything else?

Often yes. A repipe is the ideal time to add a recirculation system, upsize to a 3/4" main line, add shutoff valves at every fixture (some older homes don't have them), or prep for a water softener. We'll flag these options in the quote so you can decide.

Ready to get this fixed?

Call (503) 917-3259 for same-day service in Salem, Keizer, and the Willamette Valley.

Call (503) 917-3259 Request a quote