Most Common
Frequent pinhole leaks
More than one pinhole leak in 12 months — or a second leak appearing within weeks of repairing the first. This means the entire pipe system is corroding from the inside, not just one weak spot.
Repiping · LA & San Diego · Copper & PEX-A
Whole-home repiping with minimal demolition.
Copper and PEX-A systems. Galvanized steel replacement, polybutylene removal, pinhole leak repair. Pacific Line has repiped over 1,400 homes across Los Angeles and San Diego since 2008 — most in 3–5 days with small access holes, not torn-up walls. Licensed, insured, free estimates.
- Copper & PEX-A systems
- 3–5 day completion typical
- Minimal demolition approach
1,400+Homes repiped
since 2008
since 2008
3–5 daysTypical completion
time
time
12"x12"Access holes
(not torn walls)
(not torn walls)
Warning Signs
Seven signs your home needs repiping.
If you're seeing two or more of these signs, your pipes are failing — and spot repairs are just buying time. A diagnostic visit gives you a definitive answer.
Water Quality
Rusty or discolored water
Brown, orange, or reddish water — especially from hot water taps. This is rust from corroding galvanized steel or copper pipes. If it's only hot water, the water heater tank is rusting. If it's both, the pipes are failing.
Pressure
Low pressure throughout the house
Sudden or gradual drop in water pressure at multiple fixtures — not just one sink or shower. Galvanized steel pipes corrode from the inside, narrowing the flow path until pressure drops to unusable levels.
Visible
Corrosion on exposed pipes
Green or white crusty buildup on copper pipes, rust flakes on galvanized steel, or visible pitting. If you can see corrosion on exposed pipes in your garage or crawlspace, the hidden pipes are worse.
Age
Galvanized steel (pre-1970)
If your home was built before 1970 and has never been repiped, you likely have galvanized steel pipes. These have a 40–50 year lifespan — and most are now past it. They corrode from the inside, causing low pressure and rusty water.
Age
Polybutylene (1978–1995)
Gray plastic pipes with "PB2110" stamped on them. Installed in thousands of tract homes in the 1980s–90s. Polybutylene reacts with chlorine in municipal water, becoming brittle and failing catastrophically at fittings.
Act Now
Seeing 2+ of these signs?
Don't wait for a catastrophic failure. A diagnostic visit with camera inspection and pipe material identification gives you a definitive answer — and a flat-rate repipe quote if needed.
Book diagnosti
California-Specific
Three pipe problems unique to California.
California's housing stock and water chemistry create repiping challenges you won't find in most other states. Here's what we see most — and how we fix it.
Galvanized steel replacement
Common in: Silver Lake, Hollywood, Pasadena, Long Beach, and any LA/SD neighborhood with pre-1970 bungalows.
Galvanized steel pipes were standard from 1930–1970. They corrode from the inside out, narrowing flow and contaminating water with rust. Most are now past their 40–50 year lifespan.
- ✓ Full removal + PEX-A or copper install
- ✓ 3–5 day completion typical
Polybutylene removal
Common in: Sherman Oaks, Encino, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, and any 1980s–90s tract development.
Polybutylene (PB) plastic pipes were installed in thousands of California tract homes. PB reacts with chlorine in municipal water, becoming brittle and failing catastrophically at fittings — often without warning.
- ✓ Complete PB removal + PEX-A install
- ✓ Prevents catastrophic failure
- ✓ Required by most insurers
Pinhole leak repair (hard water)
Common in: La Jolla, Coronado, Point Loma, and any SD home with copper pipes in 280–340 ppm hard water.
San Diego's hard water (280–340 ppm) corrodes copper pipes from the inside, creating tiny pinhole leaks. When multiple pinholes appear, the entire system is failing — spot repairs are temporary.
- ✓ PEX-A recommended (hard water resistant)
- ✓ Optional whole-home water softener
- ✓ See our SD hard water guide
Material Choice
Copper vs. PEX-A — which is right for your home?
Both are excellent, long-lasting materials. The right choice depends on your home's age, water chemistry, budget, and how long you plan to stay. Here's the honest breakdown.
PEX-A repiping
Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX-A) is flexible, freeze-resistant, and immune to the hard water scaling that destroys copper in San Diego. It's faster to install (fewer fittings, no soldering), less expensive.
- ✓ Timeline: 3–4 days
- ✓ Lifespan: 50+ years
- ✓ Best for: Hard water areas, budget-conscious, long-term owners
Copper repiping
Type L copper pipe is the traditional standard — 70+ year lifespan, UV-resistant (can be exposed), and perceived as higher quality in luxury markets. It's more expensive and takes longer to install (soldering every joint), but lasts longer than PEX.
- ✓ Timeline: 5–7 days
- ✓ Lifespan: 70+ years
- ✓ Best for: Exposed pipes, luxury remodels, selling within 5 years
Side-by-side comparison
Not sure which you need? A diagnostic visit includes material recommendation based on your home's specifics. Book a diagnostic →
Our Process
From diagnostic to complete — four clear steps.
Every repipe follows the same diagnostic-first process. No guessing, no unnecessary demolition, no surprises in the final invoice.
Step One
Diagnostic & quote
We inspect your existing pipes, identify the material (galvanized, polybutylene, copper), assess the scope, and provide a flat-rate written quote with copper and PEX-A options.
- Pipe material identification
- Copper + PEX-A quotes
Step Two
Permits & prep
We pull all required permits (LADBS, DSD, or municipal), schedule the work, and prepare your home with drop cloths and protection. You can stay in your home during the repipe.
- Permits pulled for you
- Detailed timeline provided
- Home protection setup
Step Three
Repipe (3–7 days)
We remove old pipes and install new PEX-A or copper through small (12"x12") access holes — not torn-up walls. Water is shut off only during active work hours. Clean job site daily.
- Minimal demolition
- Water off only during work
- Clean site daily
Step Four
Inspection
City inspector verifies the work. We patch every access hole with new drywall, tape, and mud — ready for paint.
- City inspection passed
- All holes patched
Repiping FAQ
Questions we hear every week.
Watch for: frequent pinhole leaks (more than one in 12 months), rusty or discolored water, low water pressure throughout the house, visible corrosion on exposed pipes, water heater that's less than 8 years old but failing repeatedly, or if your home has galvanized steel (pre-1970) or polybutylene (1978–1995) pipes.
A diagnostic visit with camera inspection and pipe material identification gives you a definitive answer — and a flat-rate repipe quote if needed.
A typical 2,000 sq ft single-family home takes 3–4 days for PEX-A and 5–7 days for copper. Multi-story homes, large homes (3,000+ sq ft), or homes with complex layouts can take 5–7 days for PEX-A and 7–10 days for copper.
We provide a detailed timeline in your written quote, and we work 8-hour days to minimize disruption. You can stay in your home during the repipe — we shut off water only during active work hours.
Minimal demolition only. We access pipes through small (12"x12") openings in drywall at strategic points — typically in closets, behind access panels, or in utility spaces. We patch every opening with new drywall, tape, and mud — ready for paint.
We do not tear up floors, and we protect all surfaces with drop cloths. For slab leaks, we reroute pipes through walls and ceilings to avoid breaking concrete.
Most California homeowner's policies do NOT cover whole-home repiping — it's considered maintenance or upgrade, not sudden damage. However, they DO cover resulting water damage from pipe failures (burst pipes, slab leaks, pinhole leaks).
If you've had multiple claims for water damage from aging pipes, your insurer may require repiping to renew your policy. We provide documentation formatted for insurance discussions.
Related Services
Related plumbing services you might need.
Leak detection
Not sure if you need a full repipe? Electronic leak detection pinpoints the exact location of active leaks — so you know if it's one spot or systemic failure.
Learn moreWater heater service
If your water heater is failing alongside your pipes, we can replace both in one visit — saving time and coordinating the work.
Learn moreFixture installation
Upgrading faucets, toilets, or showers during your repipe? We install all fixtures with the new supply lines — one team.
Learn more
Expert Guides
Read before you decide.
Written by our licensed technicians — the same people who'll show up at your door.
Decision Guide · 9 min read
PEX vs. Copper Repiping: The California Homeowner's Decision Guide
After 800+ repipes across LA and SD, here's our honest take: when copper is still the right call, when PEX-A wins on every metric, and the specific situations where we spec each material.
Read the guideLos Angeles · 10 min read
Galvanized Steel Pipes in LA: When to Repair vs. When to Repipe
If your Hollywood, Silver Lake, or Pasadena home was built before 1970, there's a 78% chance galvanized steel is still in your walls. Here's how to know when it's salvageable.
Read the guideSan Diego · 11 min read
San Diego Hard Water: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know
At 280–340 ppm, San Diego has some of California's hardest water. Our SD lead tech explains how that mineral load causes pinhole leaks in copper pipes — and which water softener actually works.
Read the guideFrequent leaks? Old pipes? Buying or selling?
Get a free repipe estimate — today.
Call for a diagnostic visit (credited to repipe cost), or submit the form for a scheduled appointment within 48 hours. Copper and PEX-A quotes provided, minimal demolition approach.