When repiping is worth discussing
- Grey polybutylene, better known as poly-B, found in some houses built between roughly 1978 and the mid-nineties.
- Galvanized steel pipe in older houses, which rusts inside and chokes flow.
- Copper with repeated pinhole leaks in different places.
- Low pressure at upper floors that cleaning aerators does not cure.
Some insurers have asked about poly-B when quoting or renewing policies. If yours has, read our guide on identifying poly-B pipe.
How we plan a repipe
We start in the basement, where the main enters, and trace each branch. In many Markham two-storey houses the basement ceiling is open or partly finished, so the trunk lines are easy to reach. The risers to upper bathrooms and the kitchen are the harder part. We look for closets, chases and plumbing walls that let new pipe run up with the fewest openings.
| Material | Notes |
|---|---|
| PEX | Flexible, fewer joints, fished through walls more easily |
| Copper | Rigid and durable; more joints and more wall opening |
Riding along on the truck
- Pipe cutter, deburring tool and propane torch.
- PEX crimp and expansion tools.
- Push-fit couplings for temporary repairs.
- Moisture meter and thermal camera.
- Pressure gauge for the incoming service.
The work itself
- Protect floors and furniture along the work path.
- Run new trunk lines in the basement while the old system still supplies water.
- Open small, neat holes at each fixture and pull new lines up.
- Switch fixtures over one group at a time to keep downtime short.
- Pressure-test the new system, then remove or abandon the old pipe.
Permits and timing
Larger plumbing alterations may need a permit in Markham; confirm with the city building department. Most single-family repipes take a few days, with water off only for short periods. While walls are open is a good time to add a new main shut-off, and to read about low water pressure causes.
Markham note: village-core houses tend to hide cast iron and galvanized behind plaster, while Cornell and Box Grove builds run PEX to a manifold. We ask the year your house was built so the right fittings ride along on the truck.
Straight from the phone log
Will I have water during the repipe?
Mostly yes. Fixtures change over a group at a time, so you lose water for an afternoon at most.
Do you replace drains too?
A repipe normally covers the pressurised water lines only; waste piping gets its own camera assessment.
Ready to get it fixed?
One call, a clear explanation, and work finished tidily before we leave.