General Plumbing

As homes, commercial properties or business buildings age, so do their circulatory systems.  In effect that is what the network of supply pipes in your home really is.  These “arteries” and “veins” provide your structure’s lifeblood:  potable water.   When old galvanized metal pipe deteriorates and corrodes (or poor quality copper develops pin hole leaks,) it’s critical to replace your network of pipes with new ones to prevent potential catastrophic loss due to leaks.  Like a progressive, degenerative ailment, plumbing ONLY gets worse over time, NEVER BETTER. Eventually, even the best designed and most robust pipe systems begin to deteriorate and cause a chain reaction of potentially expensive problems related to leaks and flooding. The only effective remedy is to detect any impending critical faults early and eliminate them before they cause serious collateral damage.  Flood Brothers Plumbing has both the expertise and technology to detect leak sources, as well as completely repipe your property with the highest grade CLASS L copper or PEX.

When only the TOP Repiping Service and Repipe Materials in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County Will do

If your home is at least two decades old, there is a chance you may have the beginnings of corroded or leaky pipes that could eventually lead to catastrophic failure. Galvanized steel plumbing (commonly used until the 1970's in most Southern California homes) as well as low-quality, CLASS M thinner copper used later (often by developers to save money) can deteriorate within 20 years and may lead to thousands of dollars in flood or water damage.

Insufficient water pressure is one of the clearest and most common signs that you may need a repipe. If your water pressure, when you take a shower for example is poor, or you get scalded when someone flushes the toilet it may be time to repipe.

A visible leaky pipe raises the question of whether there are more leaky pipes, just like it, in other parts of the house you can’t see. You definitely need to replace the visible compromised pipe, but you may need to replace all your pipes underneath your home or inside your walls.

Inspect your exposed pipes in your garage, utility room and crawl space. If you see corrosion on any of your pipes, repiping is imminent. You’ll know if your pipes are corroded if you see:

• Stains   • Discoloration   • Flaking   • Dimpling   • Bumps

If your water runs colored when you first turn it on, but clears up after running it for a few seconds, is a sure sign you have a problem with your piping. If your water has a red cast, that is also often an indicator of rusty pipes. Brown, reddish or yellow colored water coming out of your faucets means your water is mixing with rust.

Rattling or loud pipes, when water is being used, is often a precursor that they need to be replaced. Observe whether you hear your pipes making noises or can hear water moving while the house is quiet.

If your warm shower turns suddenly scalding HOT when someone flushes the toilet, call us. It may be time to repipe your house.

Any kind of unpleasant odor from your water can be an indication that your pipes are deteriorating and need to be replaced.

The material your pipes are made of, often determines the lifespan of the pipes themselves. Pipes bringing water into your home are under constant pressure. So they’re more likely to cause damage to your home if they leak or burst. Common supply pipe materials include:• Brass • Copper • Galvanized steelRegardless of age, if you have these two types of pipes. your home needs repiping IMMEDIATELY:

Lead is highly toxic and is harmful if consumed. Lead piping can leach lead into your water. Children six and under, exposed to lead, can have serious physical and mental developmental issues.

These pipes, used from the 1970s to the 1990s, are of very poor quality and prone to breaking.

Cooper is still considered the GOLD standard when it comes to repiping. Copper’s characteristics make it ideal for plumbing. The metal creates a biostatic atmosphere, which makes it difficult for bacteria to grow inside of. It also resists corrosion and is unaffected by UV rays, which permits outdoors usage. It’s safe. Durable and has been in use for years. Class L copper is pretty much unbeatable. Copper does have a few disadvantages, however. It has become expensive. It’s a commodity whose price has shot through the roof in the last decade, so it is by no means a cheap material to install.PEX (or crosslinked polyethylene) is an alternative man-made material, which was introduced in the U.S. in the early 1980’s. It is very budget friendly and quick to install.

PEX popularity can be attributed to cost, flexibility, resistance to scale and chlorine, and fast installation with fewer connections and fittings. PEX is also more efficient as it doesn’t lose heat like a copper pipes do. PEX does not transfer cold or heat, which allows it to hold hot temperature longer, decreasing your energy and water bill.

Ultimately the choice will come down to personal preference and budgetary considerations.

If you believe your home may be in need of a copper or PEX repipe, call FLOOD BROTHERS PLUMBING at 855.840.7800 or click for IMMEDIATE 24/7 plumber repipe assistance. We are a family owned and operated 24-hour, top tier plumber, who will treat you the way we would want to be treated.