Repiping in Fort Worth, TX: Whole-House and Partial Repipes

Call (817) 755-5621 — 24/7 emergency service

Office hours 8 AM–11 PM daily · 24/7 emergency service

Repiping replaces the water supply pipes that feed your faucets, toilets, showers and water heater. In Fort Worth it usually comes up in older homes with rusting galvanized steel, or in houses still plumbed with gray polybutylene. We're based at 955 N Sylvania Ave in Riverside, surrounded by the 1920s–60s houses that most often need this work.

First we find out whether you need a repipe at all, then tell you whether a repair, a partial repipe or a whole-house repipe makes sense.

Signs it's time to repipe

Brown or rusty water from cold taps. (Rusty hot water only can point to the water heater.)
Pressure dropping at several fixtures, not just one faucet.
Pinhole leaks or wet spots in more than one place.
Repeat repairs on the same runs of pipe.
Gray plastic pipe, often stamped "PB", at the water heater or under sinks.

What's inside the walls of older Fort Worth homes

Galvanized steel

Riverside, Oakhurst and Six Points have many homes from the 1920s through the 1960s, nearby Haltom City has plenty of older housing too, and many of these houses still have galvanized supply pipe. As the zinc coating wears away, rust and mineral scale narrow the pipe from the inside. That's why these houses get weak showers and brown water long before a pipe bursts, and why patching one section often just moves the failure to the next joint.

Polybutylene

Gray polybutylene went into many homes built from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. It can turn brittle and fail without warning, often at the fittings, and home inspectors routinely flag it.

Under-slab lines

In slab homes, North Texas expansive clay swells when wet and shrinks in drought, stressing the lines under the foundation. When under-slab lines keep leaking, rerouting new pipe through the attic or walls can beat opening the slab again. See slab leaks and foundation leaks.

Whole-house vs partial repiping

A whole-house repipe replaces the main line inside the house and every hot and cold branch. It makes sense when the same failing material runs through the whole house, as with original galvanized or polybutylene.

A partial repipe replaces one area: a bathroom, the kitchen line, a leaking run under the slab or the section feeding a remodel.

One leak doesn't automatically mean a repipe. With a single leak and no other symptoms, start with leak detection and a standard repair.

PEX vs copper: choosing your new pipe

Most repipes use PEX, copper or a mix. Both are proven; the right choice depends on your house, the routing and your budget.

PEX

Flexible, so it can often be fished through walls and attics with fewer, smaller openings.
Fewer fittings, so fewer joints that can leak.
Resists splitting in a freeze better than rigid pipe, though it isn't freeze-proof.
Usually costs less than copper, but must be kept out of sunlight.

Copper

A long track record, and it holds its shape on exposed runs.
Handles heat and sunlight well.
Costs more and needs more soldered joints, which can mean more wall access.

How a repipe works

Inspect. We identify the pipe material, check the water pressure and note where leaks or rust show up.
Plan the routes. New lines run through the attic, walls or crawl space. Pier-and-beam houses, common in historic Fairmount, usually give easier access than a slab.
Agree on the scope. You'll know what's being replaced, which openings are needed and when the water will be off.
Install and connect new lines to each fixture and the water heater.
Test and flush. The system is pressure-tested, flushed and checked at every fixture.

When you need a pipe repair, not a repipe

Low pressure throughout the house can come from a failing pressure regulator (water pressure repair). A drip under one sink may be a fixture problem (faucet repairs). Trouble between the meter and the house is a water line repair. If a straightforward pipe repair will do, we'll tell you.

Pipe burst or leaking right now? Shut off the main water valve, usually in the meter box near the street or where the line enters the house, then call (817) 755-5621. For a burst pipe, our on-call plumber is sent right away, day or night.

More help: emergency plumbing and frozen pipes.

Coupons and financing

Current coupons include $50 off for new customers and 10% off for seniors, military and first responders. Terms are on our coupons page. For a larger job like a whole-house repipe, ask about financing options.

Fort Worth repiping FAQ

How do I know if my Fort Worth home needs repiping?

Rusty water from cold taps, low pressure at several fixtures, leaks in more than one spot or gray polybutylene pipe are the usual signs. Homes from the 1920s–60s with original galvanized pipe are common candidates. One leak on its own usually needs a repair, not a repipe.

Is PEX or copper better for repiping?

Both work well. PEX is flexible, needs fewer fittings and usually means fewer wall openings and a lower cost. Copper is rigid, handles heat and sunlight, and has a long track record.

Can I repipe just part of my house?

Yes, when the problem is concentrated in one area, such as a bathroom or a run under the slab that keeps leaking. If the same failing material runs through the whole house, a whole-house repipe usually saves repeat repairs.

Does the Fort Worth Water galvanized letter mean I need a repipe?

Not by itself. Fort Worth Water's "galvanized requiring replacement" notice is about the service line, the buried pipe that brings water from the main to your house, not the pipes inside. A home old enough to have a galvanized service line can have galvanized inside too, so it's worth checking both.

Will repiping fix my low water pressure?

It will if corroded galvanized pipe is the cause, which is common in older Fort Worth homes. Low pressure can also come from a failing pressure regulator or a single clogged valve, so we check those first.

Talk to a Fort Worth repiping plumber

Call (817) 755-5621 to set up a repiping visit. We serve Fort Worth, Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Saginaw, Lake Worth, Benbrook, Kennedale and Burleson (see service areas and all plumbing services).