Every supply pipe in the house
In a whole-house repipe, every hot and cold supply line is renewed in one project.
Repiping and Water Line Replacement in Tacoma
Rust-colored water, grit in the faucet screens, weak pressure upstairs and pinhole leaks in more than one place can mean the supply pipes are near the end of their life. Call us and we connect you with a plumber who replaces them.
On this page you will find repipe options, Tacoma Water’s notes on galvanized pipe and lead, and the City permit that covers the work.
How much pipe to replace
One part of the house
A partial repipe tackles the worst area first, such as one bathroom, the kitchen or a basement run, and leaves the rest of the house for later if it ever needs doing.
The water line from the meter
Out in the yard, the buried service pipe running from the meter to the house is a project of its own, and it can be dug up and renewed once it leaks or wears thin.
Repiping during a remodel
A general contractor who wants to do the plumbing in a remodel must also hold a Washington plumbing contractor license. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) tells homeowners to make sure the plumbing part is subcontracted to a licensed plumbing contractor.
Signs of old galvanized pipe
Tacoma Water says rust-colored water and sand or grit are typically found in older homes with galvanized pipes, which rust from the inside out. The grit can wear faucets and slow the fill on a washing machine.
Lead and Tacoma’s water lines
Tacoma Water confirmed in 2024 that the service lines in its own distribution system are not lead. A project launched in 2016 found and removed the final 342 lead goosenecks, the short connectors once used between the main and the service line.
The utility treats homes built before 1986 with copper plumbing and lead solder, or with any lead piping, as the highest risk. Its side ends at the meter, and the leak detection page explains which pipe belongs to you.
The permit for a repipe
Tacoma’s residential permit list includes a re-pipe among the over-the-counter plumbing permit requests, and whole-house repipes also appear in the City’s list of residential alteration work.
If the heater is due for replacement as well, see our page on a new water heater, and a single leak may only need leak detection. Go back to the homepage for every other service.
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