Repiping in Durham, NC

When a repipe is worth it

• Leaks in more than one location within a few years
• Rusty or discolored water from several taps, hot and cold
• Low pressure throughout the house while City pressure is normal
• Green crust, flaking or pinholes on pipe you can see

One leak on otherwise sound pipe is a repair. A pattern is the signal to look at replacement.

Durham homes and pipe age

Durham's housing spans historic pre-war neighborhoods and a large share of post-2000 construction. Census survey data puts the median build year at 1995 and about 30% of homes before 1980. Older houses may still have original galvanized steel, which corrodes from the inside and narrows over time. Houses built from the late 1970s into the 1990s can contain polybutylene, a gray plastic supply pipe with a poor reputation.

The City disinfects with chloramines and adds orthophosphate for corrosion control. Water chemistry still matters less to most repipe decisions than the pipe's age, material and how it was installed.

Choosing a material

PEX is the more common choice in repipes today, but copper remains a solid option. Ask the plumber why they recommend one for your layout.

What the project looks like

With a crawl space, new lines run underneath and come up into each wall, keeping drywall work small. Slab homes are usually repiped through the attic. Most crews restore water at the end of each workday. Durham City-County Building & Safety requires plumbing permits for replacement work, and the plumber normally pulls the permit and schedules the inspection.

Lead and the service line

A repipe covers the plumbing inside the house, not necessarily the buried service line. Durham's 2024 water quality report says homes built before 1988 may have a lead service line, so it makes sense to check that pipe while the work is being planned.

What affects the cost

Number of bathrooms and fixtures, total footage, crawl space versus slab, material and wall repair all drive the price. Ask for a written scope that says whether patching is included and how long the water will be off each day.