Replacing worn supply piping in older homes
Repiping in Eagle, ID
Repiping in Eagle replaces worn supply lines when leaks keep popping up, water runs brown or flow drops at every fixture. Call (208) 781-4118 because a local contractor can tell if you need a repair or a full replacement.
Warning signs
- Leaks that keep appearing in different places
- Rust-colored or brown water when a tap has not run for a while
- Low flow at several fixtures, not just one
- Green crust, pinholes or flaking on exposed pipe
- Pressure that drops sharply when two fixtures run at once
Common causes
- Corrosion and mineral scale narrowing the inside of older pipes
- Fittings and solder joints that wear out at different rates
- Past freeze damage that left weak spots
- Lead pipes, lead solder or older brass fixtures in homes built long ago
- Water pressure that has run high for years
Checks you can do yourself
- Make a list of past leaks with dates and locations. A pattern matters more than one leak.
- Compare flow at an upstairs and a downstairs fixture, and at hot and cold taps.
- Where pipes are visible, such as near the water heater, note whether they look copper, gray steel or plastic, and photograph them. Do not scrape or cut into them.
- Find out when the house was built and whether earlier owners repiped any part of it.
Get help right away if
- A pipe or joint is leaking inside a wall, ceiling or floor
- Water drops to a trickle across the whole house
- Brown water appears along with a drop in pressure
- Pipes bang, shake or surge when a tap is turned off
What a visit covers
- You call (208) 781-4118, say what you have noticed and roughly when the home was built, and a time can be set.
- Record the pipe materials, the pressure and the flow at several fixtures.
- Locate each leak and judge the condition of the pipe around it.
- Explain whether a repair, a partial repipe or a whole-house repipe makes sense.
- Cover the route the new pipe would take, where walls or floors must be opened and how the water will be off.
- Describe the permit and inspection steps, since repiping alters the plumbing system.
Valley specifics
Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put about 1,489 of Garden City's 5,916 housing units, roughly 25 percent, before 1980. In Eagle city the figure is about 1,710 of 13,550 (13 percent), and in Star it is about 357 of 5,519 (6 percent).
According to the EPA, homes built before 1986 and older cities are where lead pipes turn up most, and lead solder and brass faucets are the usual sources where there is no lead service line. The City of Eagle posts lead service line inventories for its Eastern and Western water zones.
Idaho Code 54-2620 requires a permit for plumbing installation, improvement, extension or alteration. Section 54-2621 exempts clearing stoppages and repairing leaks, but not work that rearranges pipes. DOPL says homeowners may buy a permit only for their own residence.
Common questions
How urgent is a repiping problem?
Rate it from 1 to 10. At 8 to 10, a pipe is leaking inside a wall or ceiling, water drops to a trickle everywhere or pipes bang and surge. Shut off the main and call (208) 781-4118 now. At 4 to 7, leaks in new places, brown water or low flow at several fixtures, call this week because worn pipe keeps failing. At 1 to 3, one old fixture with low flow, look at the aerator first.
How do I know if my home needs repiping?
Repeated leaks in different places, rust-colored water and low flow at several fixtures are the usual signs. One leak is normally a repair. A pattern of leaks is the time to ask about replacing the line.
Does repiping need a permit in Idaho?
Idaho Code 54-2620 requires a permit for plumbing installation, improvement, extension or alteration. Repiping alters the system, so expect a permit and an inspection. Ask who pulls the permit and get the permit number.
Could my home have lead pipes?
The EPA says lead pipes are more common in homes built before 1986, and lead can also come from older solder and brass fixtures. Ask your water utility for its lead service line information. The City of Eagle posts inventories for its Eastern and Western zones.
Does this cover Star and Garden City too?
Yes. Repiping reaches Star and Garden City as well as Eagle. Older homes show up more in Garden City, so call (208) 781-4118 and give your town and the year the home was built.
What to have ready
Have your address, the room or fixture, when the trouble began and whether the water is off. Add the age of the heater or the home if you know it. For tenants, the property owner is the first call. Homes in Eagle, Star and Garden City are covered, so call (208) 781-4118 because those details let the contractor plan the visit.