Signs the pipes themselves are failing
A single leak is a repair. A second and third leak in different places on pipes of the same age suggest the material is wearing out. Look for pinhole drips, green or white crust at fittings, and stains on ceilings under bathrooms.
Brown or orange water after a long absence points to rust inside steel pipe. Low pressure at every tap, with the water meter confirming flow is normal, points to narrowed pipe. A jumpy stream when you open a faucet means debris is being released.
Pipe materials compared
Material matters more than age. We identify what you have before recommending anything.
| Material | Typical sign of trouble | Repair or repipe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel | Rust-colored water, falling pressure, corroded threads | Repipe when widespread | Corrodes from the inside, so the outside may look fine |
| Polybutylene (gray plastic) | Brittle fittings, leaks at crimped joints | Repipe is usual advice | Common in some regions and decades, so check yours |
| Copper | Pinholes, green crust, pitting | Repair if isolated, repipe if widespread | Aggressive water and age can cause pitting |
| CPVC | Cracking, brittleness near hot lines | Case by case | Can embrittle with heat and age |
| PEX | Rare leaks at fittings | Repair the joint | Flexible, freeze-tolerant, fast to install |
A table cannot tell you what is behind your drywall. Only a look at the pipe can.
What pipe does a Herriman home have?
We will not guess for you. Herriman grew from 1,523 people in 2000 to 55,144 in 2020, so most homes were built in the years since incorporation in 1999 and are likely to use newer materials such as PEX, copper or CPVC. Older rural properties and the Hi-Country Estates area, which began in 1972, may be different.
The practical step is to look. Check the pipe coming off your main shutoff, the lines under sinks and the water heater connections. If you see gray plastic, magnetic gray steel or heavy green crust, call us before it fails.
From inspection to finished walls
A repipe is planned in phases so the household stays functional.
Inspect and identify
We look at accessible runs, test pressure with a gauge and photograph the material.
Map the new layout
Manifold or trunk-and-branch, fixture count and shutoffs are drawn up with you.
Confirm permit needs
Repair of existing plumbing does not need a permit in Herriman, but adding new lines does. We confirm how your scope is classified with the building department.
Protect and open walls
Floors are covered. Small access holes are cut, and we avoid demolition where we can.
Run new pipe and test
Lines are pressure-tested before drywall is closed.
Restore water and patch
You get water back the same day in most partial jobs. Drywall patching and paint are separate trades.
We do not do finish drywall and paint, so plan for that trade after the plumbing is done.
Leaks keep coming back? Call (385) 488-1892 and schedule an inspection.
Call (385) 488-1892Full repipe or just the worst section?
If the leak is a single failed fitting on otherwise sound copper or PEX, repair it. If pipe in several rooms shows the same wear, a section repipe like the kitchen and bath group may be enough. A whole-house repipe makes sense when most of the supply is galvanized or has a record of failure.
Partial repipes leave old and new materials joined together. Dielectric fittings or the right transition couplings keep dissimilar metals from corroding at the joint. We use them whenever steel meets copper.
Questions to ask any repipe contractor
Before you accept a quote from anyone, ask for these answers in writing.
- What pipe material is proposed and why, for each run?
- Is the price for the whole house or a defined section?
- Who pulls the permit if one applies, and who schedules the inspection?
- What happens to the old pipe, and is it capped inside walls or removed?
- How will water be off, and for how long each day?
- Are shutoffs and a pressure regulator included?
- Who handles drywall and paint after the lines are in?
Pressure and water quality after a repipe
New lines will not fix pressure that is too high. The city's design standard is 60 to 120 psi at the main, and pressure at your tap depends on your pressure zone. A gauge on a hose bib tells you what you have, and a regulator protects new fittings if it runs high.
Hard water remains hard. Scale will still build inside new copper and PEX connections and in the water heater, so pair a repipe with a plan for treatment, as covered under water softener and filtration. Inspect your water heater connections too.
What decides the price of a repipe
Repipe quotes vary widely because every house is different. These factors drive the number.
- ScopeWhole house, one bathroom group or a single branch line are very different jobs.
- Pipe materialPEX is usually the least expensive to install, while copper costs more in material and time.
- Home layoutTwo stories, finished basements and slab-on-grade sections change access.
- Wall and ceiling accessMore openings mean more patching afterward.
- Permits and inspectionPermit rules vary, so ask the Herriman building department how your scope is treated.
Insurance usually pays for water damage after a sudden pipe failure but not for replacing worn pipes. Ask your insurer before the work starts.
Want your real number? Call (385) 488-1892 and we will schedule an inspection first, so the quote is based on your actual pipes.
Repiping questions, answered
How do I know if my home has polybutylene or galvanized pipe?
Look at exposed lines near the water heater, main shutoff and under sinks. Gray flexible plastic suggests polybutylene, and dull gray metal that a magnet sticks to suggests galvanized steel. If you are unsure, send a photo description and we will confirm in person.
Does Herriman require a permit to repipe?
The city says repair and maintenance of existing plumbing does not need a permit, but adding new plumbing lines does. A repipe sits between those, so ask the Herriman building department how your scope is classified.
How long does a repipe take?
A partial repipe is often a day or two. Whole-house work takes longer, depending on the layout. Water is usually shut off for part of each working day.
Can pinhole leaks in copper be repaired?
A single pinhole can be cut out and fitted with a coupling. Several pinholes in a short stretch suggest the pipe is failing along its length.
Will repiping improve my water pressure?
It can, when old steel is choked with rust. If the pressure is limited by the street supply or a regulator, new pipe will not change much.
Do you repipe sewer or drain lines?
This page covers supply lines. For drains and the line to the street, see sewer line repair.
Is a repipe an emergency?
Not usually. If a pipe is bursting, call for burst pipe repair and plan the repipe once the water is under control.
Wondering whether your pipes are worth saving? Call (385) 488-1892.
Call (385) 488-1892Sources and standards
The standards and local rules behind this service page are listed below. Rules and fees change, so read the current version before you rely on them.