Top Repiping Contractors in Santa Ana, California Ranked

A whole-house repiping project is a significant but often necessary upgrade for homeowners dealing with persistent leaks, low water pressure, or aging plumbing systems. This process involves replacing all the water supply pipes in your home with new, modern materials, ensuring safe, reliable water flow for decades to come. For Santa Ana residents, understanding the local costs, timeline, and material options is key to planning a successful pipe replacement project and finding qualified professionals to handle the job.

All City Plumbing, Air & Electrical

5612 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807

All City Plumbing, Air & Electrical is a full-service plumbing, HVAC, and electrical provider located in Anaheim, CA. They offer a wide range of services including water heater repair and installation, drain cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line repair, leak detection, repiping, and toilet repair. Their team is licensed, bonded, and insured, with technicians who are ACE Certified and available 24/7 for emergency plumbing and HVAC needs. With over 13 years of experience serving Anaheim and surrounding areas, they use advanced technology to ensure efficient and reliable service.

5.0

1.9k Reviews

Dymek's Freedom Plumbing, Inc

2921 E Miraloma Ave #17, Anaheim, CA 92806

Dymek's Freedom Plumbing, Inc is a plumbing service provider based in Anaheim, CA, offering a wide range of residential and commercial plumbing solutions. Their services include sewer camera inspections, water heater installation and repair, drain cleaning, hydro jetting, trenchless sewer repair, leak detection, repiping, and garbage disposal repairs. They utilize advanced technology such as electronic slab leak detection and sewer video inspection to diagnose and address plumbing issues efficiently. With over 25 years of experience, the company emphasizes old-fashioned values combined with modern technology and is available 24/7 for emergency plumbing needs.

5.0

1.0k Reviews

Jim & Sons Plumbing & Rooter

9345 Narnia Dr, Riverside, CA 92503

Jim & Sons Plumbing & Rooter is a family-owned plumbing company serving Riverside, CA, and the surrounding Inland Empire region. Since 1983, they have provided residential and commercial plumbing services including water heater repair and installation, drain cleaning, sewer line repair, leak detection, repiping, gas line installation, and garbage disposal repair. They specialize in trenchless sewer repair techniques such as pipe bursting and cured-in-place lining, which allow sewer line renewal without excavation, preserving landscaping and minimizing environmental impact. The company offers same-day service and is fully licensed and insured.

5.0

741 Reviews

Merry Plumbing

1465 San Marino Ave, San Marino, CA 91108

Merry Plumbing is a well-established plumbing company serving Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas including Pasadena, San Marino, and Glendora. With 79 years in business since 1946, they provide a wide range of plumbing services such as sewer camera inspection, water heater repair and installation, drain cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line repair, leak detection, and repiping. Their team is equipped to handle both residential and commercial plumbing needs with modern tools and on-site parts availability. Merry Plumbing emphasizes clear, upfront estimates and has built a reputation for thorough and dependable service over many decades.

5.0

645 Reviews

Carlson Plumbing Pros

17150 Newhope St Suite 301-302, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Carlson Plumbing Pros is a licensed plumbing company serving Santa Ana, CA, and the broader Orange County area. They offer a wide range of plumbing services including water heater repair, water softener installation, drain cleaning, sewer line repair, leak detection, repiping, and gas line installation. With over 20 years of experience, they provide skilled plumbing solutions and are equipped to handle emergencies with 24/7 availability.

5.0

357 Reviews

See more providers in Santa Ana, CA

Why Consider a Full Plumbing Replacement?

Over time, the pipes hidden within your walls and under your floors can deteriorate. In many of Santa Ana's charming older homes, original plumbing may consist of galvanized steel or, in rare cases, even lead. These materials are prone to internal corrosion and mineral buildup, which gradually restricts water flow, leading to frustratingly low pressure at your faucets and showers ^{1 2}. More critically, corroded pipes can develop pinhole leaks, causing water damage to drywall, flooring, and structural elements. A complete pipe replacement eliminates these risks by installing a new, corrosion-resistant system that restores optimal pressure and provides peace of mind.

The Repiping Process: What to Expect from Start to Finish

A professional whole-house repipe is a meticulously planned operation designed to minimize disruption while ensuring a long-lasting result. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of what typically happens during a Santa Ana repiping project.

Inspection and Planning The process begins with a thorough inspection. A licensed plumber will assess your home's current plumbing layout, identify the existing pipe materials, and map out the most efficient routes for the new lines. This plan includes determining the best access points, usually through existing openings in walls or strategic, minimal cuts. The main water supply to the house will be shut off at the start of the project ^{3 4}.

Preparation and Protection Before any work begins, the crew will take steps to protect your home. This includes laying down drop cloths or floor protection in work areas, moving furniture if necessary, and carefully covering fixtures. Proper preparation is crucial for keeping the inevitable dust and debris contained and making cleanup much easier ⁵.

Removal and Installation The old pipes are carefully cut out and removed. The new piping-typically flexible PEX or rigid copper-is then run through the wall cavities, attic spaces, or crawl spaces following the pre-planned route. Modern techniques, especially with PEX, allow for long, continuous runs with fewer fittings, which reduces potential future leak points ^{3 6}.

Fixture Connection and Testing Once the new main and branch lines are in place, they are connected to all your fixtures: sinks, toilets, showers, washing machine, and water heater. The entire system is then pressurized and tested for leaks. This critical step happens before any walls are sealed up, allowing for easy access to fix any issues ⁴.

Restoration and Cleanup After the system passes inspection and pressure testing, the plumber will patch any access holes made in the drywall. While they typically handle the patching, painting and final wall texture are usually the homeowner's responsibility or can be arranged as an additional service. The work area is thoroughly cleaned, and your water is restored ⁵.

Choosing the Right Piping Material for Your Home

The choice of material is one of the most important decisions in a repipe project, affecting cost, longevity, and installation time. Here are the most common options for Santa Ana homes.

Copper Copper has been the gold standard for water supply lines for decades. It is extremely durable, resistant to corrosion, and has a proven lifespan of 50 to 100 years ^{1 7}. Its rigidity makes it a solid, reliable choice. However, copper is more expensive both in material cost and labor, as it requires soldering each joint. It's also susceptible to theft from vacant properties.

PEX (Cross-Linked Polyethylene) PEX has become the overwhelmingly popular choice for modern repiping projects. This flexible, plastic tubing is color-coded (red for hot, blue for cold), making it easy to install with fewer fittings. Its flexibility allows it to be snaked through walls with minimal cutting, significantly reducing installation time and labor costs ^{8 9}. PEX is also highly resistant to scale and chlorine, doesn't corrode, and can expand slightly if water freezes, reducing burst risk. It is not recommended for outdoor use or in areas with very high chlorine levels ^{2 10}.

CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) CPVC is a rigid plastic pipe often used for drain, waste, and vent (DWV) lines, and sometimes for hot and cold water supply. It is budget-friendly and easy to cut and glue. However, it can become brittle over time, especially when exposed to sunlight, and is generally considered less durable than PEX or copper for whole-house supply applications.

Outdated Materials: Galvanized Steel and Lead If your Santa Ana home was built before the 1970s, you may have galvanized steel pipes. These are prone to rusting from the inside out, severely restricting water flow. Lead pipes, while rare, pose a serious health hazard and require immediate replacement ^{1 2}. Identifying and replacing these materials is a primary reason many homeowners undertake a repipe.

Cost and Timeline for Repiping in Santa Ana

The investment for a whole-house repipe varies widely based on your home's specific characteristics. Understanding the factors at play can help you budget effectively.

What Influences the Total Cost?

• Home Size and Layout: A single-story, 1,500-square-foot home with simple plumbing runs will cost significantly less than a large, multi-story home with complex layouts and multiple bathrooms ^{11 12}.
• Material Choice: As discussed, PEX systems are generally more affordable than copper due to lower material costs and faster installation. Material choice is a major cost driver ^{8 13}.
• Labor and Accessibility: Labor typically constitutes about 70% of the total repiping cost ⁸. Easy access to pipe runs through attics or crawl spaces keeps labor down, while having to open numerous walls increases it.
• Restoration Work: The plumbing quote often includes basic drywall patching, but painting, texturing, and any extensive wall repair will add to the overall project cost ⁵.

Santa Ana Cost Ranges For a typical home in California, the average cost for a full plumbing system replacement falls between $6,000 and $15,000 ^{1 11}. However, projects can range from as low as $4,000 for a small, straightforward PEX repipe to over $20,000 for a large home using copper with extensive restoration needs ^{3 12}. It's essential to get detailed, written estimates from several licensed plumbers that break down material, labor, and any potential additional costs.

Project Timeline A repipe is not an overnight job. For a small to average-sized Santa Ana home, the process usually takes 3 to 7 days from water shut-off to restoration ^{1 13}. A very small home might be completed in 1-2 days, while a large or complex project could take a full week or more. The timeline is also influenced by the material-PEX installations are notably faster than copper ¹³.

Minimizing Disruption During Your Pipe Replacement Project

While a repipe is invasive, planning can make the experience much smoother.

• Communicate with Your Plumber: Discuss the daily schedule, work areas, and where the crew will need access.
• Prepare the Home: Move valuables and fragile items out of work areas. Consider covering furniture in adjacent rooms with sheets.
• Plan for Water Outages: You will be without water for the majority of the project. Fill containers with water for drinking and flushing toilets (a bucket of water poured quickly into the bowl works). You may want to make arrangements to shower elsewhere.
• Expect Some Mess: Despite best efforts, there will be dust. Sealing off doorways with plastic sheeting can help contain it to the work zone.
• Plan for Meals: Without a functioning kitchen sink, plan for simple meals, takeout, or using an outdoor hose bib if one is available and not being worked on.

Signs You Might Need a Whole-House Repipe

How do you know if you need a full replacement instead of just fixing a leak? Look for these common indicators:

• Discolored Water: Brown or rusty water, especially when first turning on the tap, is a classic sign of corroding galvanized pipes.
• Consistently Low Water Pressure: If cleaning aerators doesn't help, the problem is likely restricted pipes.
• Frequent Leaks: If you're constantly patching pinhole leaks in different areas, the entire system is likely failing.
• Visible Corrosion: Check pipes in your basement, crawl space, or under sinks. Flaking, rust, or green patina on copper joints are bad signs.
• Home Age: If your Santa Ana home is over 50 years old and still has its original plumbing, a proactive repipe can prevent catastrophic failures.

Frequently asked questions

Sources