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Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,755
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

[ Edited ]

I had the water company notify me of high water usage indicating a leak or a facet/toilet running. There is no facet or toilet running and I spoke to several people who say my problem is probably a leak under the slab (I live in Florida with no basement.) Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed? If so what was your experience cost? I have 4 Plumbers in mind to get estimates from. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 54,410
Registered: ‎03-29-2012

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

@conlt 

Yes, unfortunately.

I had "Qest" plumbing, which is hand crimped.  Is is gray in color.  It works, until it doesn't. There are no slow leaks, just a tidal wave.  The class action suit closed about year before I bought the property.  Mine failed a year or so after I bought it.

 

Why You Should Never Buy s Florida Home with Polybutylene Pipes? – Red Cap  Plumbing

I had almost everything replumbed (not the service line).

I live in small a townhome, and it was 4K more than 10 years ago.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 69,397
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

Yes indeed, I am a veteran of polybutylene pipe wars.  That's the gray pipe that was used mostly in the 70s and 80s.  There were class-action lawsuits covering specific periods but my house wasn't included in any of them. 

 

Anyway, I had a leak somewhere under the slab but even a "leak detector" specialist could never find it so I had to have the whole house replumbed.  The excess water bills, plumbing and sheet rock repair, where they had to tear it out to get to pipes, cost well over $20,000., and that was 15 years ago.

 

They a geyser appeared in the front yard so I had to have the pipe from the house to the meter replaced for a couple more thousand.

 

My advice would be to choose an old, established company to do the work so they'll be around if there are problems down the line.  I wouldn't choose an individual with his own business who might fly by night. 

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment
Valued Contributor
Posts: 503
Registered: ‎07-12-2020

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

Do you have a sprinkler system in your yard? If yes, go take a walk and look arround the sprinkler heads and the pipe lines. Look for things growing overly well or just plain wet soil. Walk the property at your slab and also look for wet spots where pipes might be leaking out between the brick or siding and the slab. Look at your hose bibs (outdoor faucet) to see if any are dripping. Do you own a pool? This may be the culprit not your interior pipes. Also the water company should recheck your water meter to reread it. Where I live, the electric companies frequently estimate usage, so sometimes they are just plain wrong. My understanding is there are new ways that plumbers can line some of the pipes to seal them if they are leaking. I'd check your toilets, too, and see if you hear them fill up on their own occasionally. It won't be a lot of noise, its like a whoosh for a minute or so, and then it cuts off. And lastly, is there any kind of construction going on around your house that others may be using your hose bibs for their own water? Don't automatically say no, this sounds stranger than fiction but it was happening to a friend of mine. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 69,397
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

@Growing    I didn't have any of those things occur.  A good indicator was a water bill that was $600+ above normal.  And yes, the meter was checked. 

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,987
Registered: ‎05-13-2021

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

[ Edited ]

@conlt  Most plumbing companies now have special cameras they put down the pipes to visually inspect the system for cracks in the pipes or leaks in the joints.. Small independent plumbers may not have this equipment, some do however.  They can charge $500 and up for this service (depends on size of home) but they some will do it for free if it's part of doing an estimate for a large job. Ask them if have this capabililty and if it will help pinpoint the problem.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,755
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

@decaf Thank you, I did not know this information 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,755
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

@Growing No, I don't have anything mentioned in your post but thank you anyway. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,755
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

@Kachina624 Thank you, my house was built in 1981 and has copper pipes. Around here, many have had leaks because the chemicals used in the water corrode the copper pipe. I believe when they re-plumb now, they use some type of flexible tubing and go down the walls from the top of the house. They leave the copper pipes in and just divert the water through the new plumbing. I am almost certain I have to have it done. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 69,397
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Has anyone had their house Re-Plumbed?

@conlt    Yes, the flexible pipe is what I have now.  I've never had pipes freeze since I've had it either.  They put it beside my old pipes. 

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment