Repiping in Casselberry, FL

Rusty water, pinhole leaks and pressure that keeps falling

Pipes rarely fail all at once. They send small signals first, and the signals tend to repeat. Orange or brown water when a tap has sat idle points to corrosion inside steel pipe. A green crust at a copper joint or a pinhole spray in a wall points to thinning metal.

Pressure is the other tell. When the shower weakens at the same time as the kitchen tap, and the street supply is fine, the inside diameter of old pipe may have narrowed. Mineral scale and rust build up like plaque in an artery.

One of these signs is a reason to investigate. Several of them together, or a second pinhole after you fixed the first, is a reason to think about replacement.

• Rusty or discolored water that clears slowly after running the tap.
• More than one pinhole leak, or leaks at joints in different parts of the house.
• Pressure that has fallen over the years, hot and cold alike.
• Stained ceilings or walls below bathrooms and above utility rooms.
• Metallic taste or smell that your filter does not fix.

Pipe materials compared

No pipe is perfect for every home. This is a general comparison, and we talk through which fits your house, your water and your budget.

Galvanized pipe replacement

Galvanized steel is coated with zinc to resist rust, but the coating wears out from the inside. Rust then builds up, the pipe narrows and sections start to leak at the threaded joints. You can often spot it by a dull gray color and a magnet that sticks to it.

Patching galvanized pipe tends to be a short-term fix, because the next section is usually in similar shape. When much of a house is on it, replacement is the more practical route.

What a repipe involves, room by room

The job follows a routine order. A good plumber plans it so the water is off for as little time as the work allows.

1. We walk the house, find the main entry, the water heater, every bathroom, the kitchen and the laundry, and decide on a layout.
2. Fixtures and shutoffs are marked, and floors and furniture in the work areas are covered.
3. Small access holes are cut in drywall, usually near fixtures and in closets, to run the new lines through walls and the attic.
4. New supply lines are connected to each fixture, and the old lines are capped or removed.
5. We pressure test the new system before closing anything up, then restore water and check every fixture.
6. Drywall patches, texture and paint are separate trades. Ask what is included before the work starts.

Drywall, dust and how long it takes

Plan for some drywall work. The more of the house we are replacing and the harder the access, the more patching you will have. Homes with attic access over most rooms need fewer cuts than homes where lines run through slab or interior walls.

Timing depends on the size of the house, the number of bathrooms and the access. Many repipes take a few days of plumbing work, with drywall repair afterward, but we do not promise a schedule until we have walked the house. Water is usually off during working hours and restored at day's end.

The city copper results are about the supply, not your pipes

Casselberry's 2025 report lists tap sampling from April 2025 with a copper 90th percentile of 0.19 ppm against an action level of 1.3 ppm, and no violation. That describes what the city supplies and how its corrosion control is working. It does not describe what your own pipes release.

A home's plumbing can still leach metals into standing water, particularly in old lines. If you are concerned, test your tap, and ask the City of Casselberry Utilities Department for its annual water quality report. The city adds orthophosphate for corrosion control, but that cannot rebuild a worn-out pipe.

Repipe, repair or reroute: how to decide

If a single pipe has failed from damage, such as a nail through a wall or a freeze, a repair is fine. See burst pipe repair for that. If a slab line has leaked, a reroute through the walls may be cheaper than repiping the whole house, and slab leak repair explains that choice.

If the buried line between the meter and the house is the problem, that is water line repair and not a repipe. The distinction matters because they are different jobs and different prices.

What to do before the repipe crew arrives

A repipe opens walls and moves furniture, so a little preparation keeps the day shorter and protects your belongings. None of it needs tools.

Plan on the water being off for part of the day, and decide where the household will wash and cook while it is.

• Clear a path to every room where a wall may be opened, including closets and the garage.
• Move furniture, rugs and wall art at least three feet away from the walls that carry pipe.
• Fill a few containers with drinking water and set aside a cooler for anything that needs to stay cold.
• Keep children and pets out of the work areas, since cut drywall, dust and fittings are on the floor.
• Take photos of walls and ceilings before work starts, so you have a record if you need it for your insurer.
• Locate your main shutoff valve and make sure it turns, then tell the plumber if it sticks.

What affects the cost of a repipe

You get a clear price before work starts. These are the factors behind it.

Homeowners insurance usually covers sudden and accidental water damage, but typically not the worn pipes themselves, gradual leaks or wear. A repipe done as maintenance is usually not covered, so check your policy.

Frequently asked questions