Repiping in Atlanta, GA

Why it comes up so often in older Atlanta homes

About 42.7% of Atlanta's homes were built before 1980, according to Census survey data, and the in-town bungalow neighborhoods are where original galvanized steel supply lines still turn up. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside, narrowing the opening until pressure and flow suffer. Houses from later decades can have other problem materials, so it helps to know what is actually in your walls before deciding.

Signs a repair is no longer enough

• Leaks in different spots over a short span of years
• Brown or rusty water at several fixtures, on hot and cold
• Weak pressure everywhere even though the supply from the street is fine
• Visible pinholes, flaking or heavy corrosion on exposed pipe

A single failure on healthy pipe is a repair. A repeating pattern is the cue to price replacement.

PEX or copper

PEX is the usual pick for repipes now, but copper is still a durable choice. Ask the plumber to explain the recommendation for your layout.

How the work is done

Basements and crawl spaces make the job easier, since new lines run underneath and rise into each wall. Slab homes are usually repiped through the attic. Most crews turn the water back on at the end of each day. Replacement plumbing in one- and two-family homes falls under the City of Atlanta Office of Buildings technical permit, applied for online with no plan review, and the plumber normally files it.

The service line is separate

A repipe covers the plumbing inside the home. The buried line from the meter to the house is also the owner's responsibility under DWM rules, so if it is old galvanized pipe, consider replacing it while the project is underway.

Cost factors

Number of bathrooms and fixtures, total pipe length, foundation type, material choice and drywall patching all affect the price. Get a written scope that states whether patching is included and the daily water-off schedule.