Leaks, pipes & freezing · Denver
Repiping in Denver, CO
Repiping replaces a home's water supply lines, usually because old galvanized steel has corroded or polybutylene is at risk of failing. Most repipes today use PEX, take two to five days, and are done through small wall openings rather than gutting the house.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Repiping for Denver homes
Many homes built before the 1960s still have galvanized supply pipe, which rusts from the inside until pressure drops and the water turns brown. Some homes built between the late 1970s and mid-1990s have gray polybutylene pipe, which can fail at fittings without warning.
For the full guide, including what you can safely do before a plumber arrives, see repiping explained.
Repiping in Denver at a glance
- Urgency
- Usually plannable
- Area
- Denver, CO
- Who does the work
- An independent, licensed local plumber
- Permit
- Plumbing permits and inspections are handled by Denver Community Planning and Development. Sewer work in the street also needs a right-of-way permit from the city.
- Typical steps
- Survey → Quote and permit → Run new lines → Inspect and test
- Availability
- Call now to check plumber availability
Signs you need repiping in Denver
- Low pressure throughout the house, especially on hot
- Rusty or brown water after the water sits overnight
- Repeated pinhole leaks in copper
- Gray plastic supply lines marked PB
- Galvanized pipe visible at the water heater or main
Local conditions
Repiping in Denver: what's different
Denver bungalows and foursquares from the 1900s–1930s often still have some galvanized supply pipe, sometimes spliced to copper during earlier remodels. Galvanized corrodes from the inside, causing low pressure and rusty water, and partial repipes where only some runs were replaced are common.
A whole-house repipe usually runs new PEX or copper through basements and closets with small wall openings, then the plumber patches them. Plumbing permits and inspections come from Denver Community Planning and Development. Homes with a lead service line may also qualify for Denver Water's replacement program for the line from the main.
- Water and sewer in Denver
- Denver Water supplies drinking water. Wastewater is collected by the city and treated by Metro Water Recovery. Homeowners own the sewer service line from the house to the main in the street.
- Permits in Denver
- Plumbing permits and inspections are handled by Denver Community Planning and Development. Sewer work in the street also needs a right-of-way permit from the city.
Denver housing and plumbing
Bungalows and foursquares from the 1900s–1930s often have clay sewer lines and partial galvanized supply lines, sometimes spliced to copper during earlier remodels. Post-war ranches from the 1950s typically have cast-iron drains and copper or galvanized supply. Many have finished basements added decades later, which hide pipes that run along cold foundation walls.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Denver and Denver County, including Capitol Hill, Highland, Washington Park, Park Hill, Baker, Berkeley, Harvey Park, Montclair, Central Park, Green Valley Ranch. ZIP codes: 80202 · 80203 · 80204 · 80205 · 80206 · 80207 · 80209 · 80210 · 80211 · 80212 · 80216 · 80218 · 80219 · 80220 · 80222 · 80223 · 80224 · 80230 · 80231 · 80236 · 80237 · 80238 · 80239 · 80246 · 80247 · 80249.
Other Denver conditions that affect plumbing
- Roots in clay sewer laterals: Mature silver maples, elms and cottonwoods line many older Denver streets, and their roots find every joint in clay sewer pipe. Recurring main line clogs in a pre-1960 home are usually roots.
- Galvanized supply pipe: Low pressure and rusty water in older homes usually trace back to galvanized steel pipe corroding from the inside. Partial repipes are common where only some runs were replaced.
- Lead service line replacement: Denver Water runs a lead service line replacement program for homes with lead pipes from the main. If you get a notice, the utility's program can cover replacement of the service line.
How repiping works in Denver
- 1
Survey
The plumber identifies pipe materials, maps where lines run and plans access points.
- 2
Quote and permit
Repiping typically needs a plumbing permit from the city or county. The plumber pulls it.
- 3
Run new lines
New pipe is fished through walls and floors. Fixtures are switched over one area at a time.
- 4
Inspect and test
The system is pressure tested and inspected before wall openings are patched.
What affects repiping cost in Denver
Every job is priced by the plumber after they see it. These are the things that move the price most. Ask for the price before work starts.
- Number of bathrooms and fixtures
- PEX versus copper
- Number of stories and whether there's basement access
- Wall patching and painting
- Replacing the main water line at the same time
Repiping questions in Denver
How long does it take to repipe a Denver home?
Is PEX or copper better for repiping?
Can I live in the house during a repipe?
How long does a whole-house repipe take?
Also in Denver
Related
Related plumbing services
Leak detection
Turn off every fixture and watch the water meter's leak indicator.
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Water line repair
The water service line runs from the curb stop near the street to your house, buried below the frost line.
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Burst pipe repair
Turn off the main water shutoff first, then open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the lines.
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Water heater replacement
A leaking tank or a heater past about 10 years old is usually replaced rather than repaired.
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