The whole house
With a full repipe, every hot and cold supply run in the house is renewed in a single job, from the shutoff valve where water enters out to each faucet, toilet and appliance.
Repiping and Water Line Replacement in Indianapolis
Leaks that keep coming back, rusty or discolored water and weak pressure at several taps can mean the supply pipes are worn out. The plumber you hire can replace the pipes inside the house or the water service line from the main.
Read on for when the city wants a permit for a repipe, how lead service lines are tracked and what the Citizens replacement program pays for.
What gets replaced
Part of the house
Replacing only the runs that are failing, such as the lines to one bathroom or across the basement, deals with the worst pipe first.
The water service line
Replacing just the service line, the pipe from the main to the house, makes sense after a yard leak or when the line turns out to be lead or galvanized steel.
The city permit for a repipe
Plumbing work in Indianapolis needs a city permit unless it is on the exceptions list. Replacing pipe in kind is on that list only when not more than 20 percent of all piping in the structure is replaced, so a whole-house repipe needs a permit.
The city inspects a permitted repipe at the rough stage and again at the end, with an under-slab inspection first where pipe runs beneath a concrete floor.
Lead service lines in Indianapolis
Citizens Energy Group estimates that 75,000 homes and businesses built before 1950 in the Indianapolis area may have lead service lines or lead plumbing, and that some homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in copper joints. As the leak detection page explains, the service line is owned by the property owner.
Through its Lead Service Line Replacement Program, Citizens replaces lead lines in designated project areas at no cost to the property owner, provided the property owner signs a Right of Entry Agreement.
Outside a project area, an owner can hire a plumber registered and bonded with Citizens to replace the line on private property at the owner’s cost. Citizens funds the part in the public right-of-way, and the owner also pays for moving the meter to a pit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pull the plumbing permit for a repipe myself?
Not quite. The city says plumbing permits must be pulled by a licensed contractor, and homeowners can pull them only in limited situations, which the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services decides case by case.
Can I find out whether my service line is lead?
Yes. Citizens publishes a searchable service line inventory, built from visual inspections and historic records, and mails a letter each year to households that own or may own a lead line. A plumber can check the pipe.
If a new heater is part of the plan, see water heater installation. For one stubborn leak, see leak detection. Other services are on the home page.
Call for a free plumbing estimate
Call us to discuss your current issue and how we can assist you. The call is free and you get a free, personalized estimate with no obligation. We're here to help.
Call (855) 321-3426