Pipe Reroute & Whole-House Repipe

Fort Worth Leak Detection is a referral and matching service. We connect you with independent, TSBPE-licensed local plumbers; we don’t perform the work ourselves. Here’s how rerouting and repiping work and how to tell when they make sense.

What a reroute is

A reroute leaves the leaking pipe in the slab (capped off and abandoned) and runs a new supply line to the same fixtures through the attic, walls, or another accessible path. Most reroutes in slab homes go overhead: up from the water heater or main line, across the attic, and down inside walls to the fixtures that line served.

• Pros: no concrete is broken, the new pipe is out of the ground and easier to service later, and the work is often quicker and cleaner inside than a spot repair.
• Cons: it means small openings in drywall that need patching and paint, and attic lines in North Texas must be insulated properly against both summer heat and winter freezes.

A reroute usually covers one line, such as the hot water line to a bathroom or kitchen. It’s a common first choice when the leak is under a hard-to-reach spot and the rest of the system is in reasonable shape.

What a whole-house repipe is

A repipe replaces all of the home’s water supply lines, hot and cold, from the main shut-off to every fixture. In slab homes this almost always means moving the plumbing overhead and abandoning the under-slab lines entirely. Drain and sewer lines are a separate system and are handled differently (see water line and sewer leaks).

A repipe is a bigger project, but it resets the clock on the whole system. It’s worth asking about when:

• You’ve had more than one slab leak, or leaks in different parts of the house
• The home has older galvanized steel pipe, which corrodes from the inside and reduces water pressure over time
• The home has polybutylene (gray plastic) supply pipe, which was widely installed from roughly the late 1970s to the mid-1990s and has a history of failures
• Copper lines show pinhole leaks or green corrosion at several points
• Water pressure is poor throughout the house, or the water is discolored

PEX vs. copper

Most repipes today use PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) or copper.

• PEX is flexible, so it can be fished through walls with fewer openings, it uses fewer joints, it handles freezing somewhat better than rigid pipe, and it generally costs less to install. It shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight long-term and must be installed to manufacturer specifications.
• Copper has a long track record and is durable, but it costs more, takes more labor, and can still develop pinhole leaks depending on water chemistry.

Neither is “wrong.” Ask the plumber why they recommend one over the other for your house, and make sure the quote names the pipe type and brand.

What the process looks like

1. Assessment. The plumber reviews the existing pipe, the leak history, and the attic and wall access, then proposes a reroute or full repipe.
2. Permit. Most cities require a plumbing permit for a repipe. The licensed plumber normally pulls it, and an inspection follows.
3. Installation. Small openings are cut in drywall where lines drop to fixtures. New lines are run, connected, and pressure-tested. Water is typically off for part of each work day.
4. Inspection and patching. After the city inspection, the openings are patched. Ask whether patching and paint are included or handled by someone else.

A single-line reroute may take a day. A whole-house repipe often takes a few days, depending on the size of the home and access.

Cost drivers

National guides list rerouting a single line in the hundreds to low thousands of dollars, and moving a whole system out of the slab at roughly $4,000–$15,000 (Fixr; This Old House). Your price depends on:

• The number of bathrooms and fixtures
• One-story vs. two-story, and how easy the attic is to work in
• PEX vs. copper
• Whether drywall patching and painting are included
• Permit fees

Get at least two written quotes that describe the same scope so you’re comparing like for like.

Insurance note

Homeowners insurance generally doesn’t pay to replace old or worn-out pipe. If a leak caused sudden water damage, part of that damage may be covered. A repipe itself is usually treated as maintenance or an upgrade. Check your policy and see our insurance FAQ.

Check the license

Reroutes and repipes are licensed plumbing work in Texas. Before work starts, confirm the plumber’s license on the TSBPE public license search and that the permit is pulled.

Common questions