What you can do first
- Note which taps are weakest and whether hot, cold or both are affected.
- Look at exposed pipe in the basement: grey threaded pipe is likely galvanized.
- Collect any records of past leak repairs.
- Read why water pressure is low to rule out simpler causes.
For one-off leaks rather than a whole system, see pipe repair.
Signs you need whole-home repiping
- Galvanized steel supply lines, which rust from the inside and narrow over decades
- Repeated pinhole leaks in copper
- Low pressure at several fixtures at once, not just one aerator
- Discoloured water after the taps sit unused
- Older polybutylene or a patchwork of mixed materials from past repairs
We walk the house first, tracing where the main enters and how branches reach each bathroom, kitchen and laundry.
How we handle the job
We walk the house first, tracing where the main enters and how branches reach each bathroom, kitchen and laundry. From that we draw up a route for new lines, usually PEX with a manifold or copper where it suits better, and decide which walls and ceilings must be opened.
Work is staged so you are not without water for long. New lines are run alongside the old, then each fixture is switched over and the old pipe capped or removed. Openings are kept as small as practical and left neat for drywall repair. Pressure testing comes before anything is closed in. If plumbing permits apply, we explain them; see permits in Pickering.
Pickering homes and this problem
Most of Pickering was built from the late 1960s onward, so true galvanized-throughout houses are less frequent than in older Toronto neighbourhoods. They still turn up in the oldest parts of Pickering Village, Whitevale, Claremont and older farmhouses in the rural north. More often we repipe part of a house: a 1970s copper system with recurring pinholes, or a basement full of mismatched repairs from earlier owners. A repipe is also a good moment to replace a tired main shut-off valve.
Job note: if the pipe from the street into the house is also old, ask about the service line too. Our service line page explains what to look for.
What affects the price
Size of the house, number of fixtures, finished versus open basement ceilings, access through closets and floors, and the pipe material chosen. A bungalow with an unfinished basement is a very different job from a finished two-storey home. We give a written scope before any wall is opened.
Living in the house while we work
Most owners stay home during a repipe. We tell you each morning which fixtures will be off and for roughly how long, cover floors along our path, and clear debris at the end of each day.
Questions callers ask
Will I be without water for days?
Normally not. We run new lines while the old ones still work and switch fixtures over in stages, so each shutdown lasts hours, not days.
Is PEX or copper better?
Both are accepted. PEX is flexible and needs fewer fittings inside walls; copper is durable and familiar. We recommend based on your house layout.