Repiping a home means replacing the existing water supply lines — the pipes that carry pressurized hot and cold water throughout your house — with new material. It’s a significant project, but it’s well-defined and far less disruptive than most homeowners expect. A typical single-family home in the Denver metro can be repiped in one to three days depending on its size, the complexity of the layout, and the pipe material being installed.
Why Homes Need to Be Repiped
Most repiping projects are driven by aging pipe material that has reached the end of its reliable service life. Galvanized steel pipe, common in Denver-area homes built before the 1970s, corrodes from the inside out over decades — restricting water flow, discoloring water, and eventually leaking. Polybutylene pipe, installed in many homes from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s, is prone to cracking and has been the subject of widespread replacement programs. Even copper pipe can develop pinhole leaks over time, particularly in areas with hard water or aggressive soil chemistry.
Colorado’s hard water is a real factor. The mineral content — primarily calcium and magnesium — accelerates scale buildup inside older metal pipes, further narrowing the effective diameter and putting stress on fittings and joints. If you’ve noticed reduced water pressure, rusty or discolored water, frequent small leaks, or a water heater that seems to work harder than it used to, aging pipes may be the underlying issue.
What Happens During a Repipe
The process begins with an assessment of your existing system — which pipe material is in place, how it’s routed, how many fixtures and bathrooms the home has, and what access points are available. This shapes the plan and the timeline.
The actual repipe involves:
- Shutting off the water supply to the home at the main shutoff
- Cutting small access holes in walls, ceilings, or floors to reach existing pipes and route new ones — typically limited in number with modern methods
- Running new pipe (usually PEX or copper) from the main shutoff through the home to each fixture, fixture group, or zone
- Connecting to fixtures — toilets, sinks, showers, tubs, appliances, and the water heater
- Pressure testing the new system before the water is turned back on
- Patching drywall access holes — either by the plumber or a separate contractor, depending on the scope
PEX vs. Copper: What Material Is Right?
Most repiping projects today use PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing. PEX is flexible, which means it can snake through walls with fewer access holes than rigid copper. It’s resistant to the freeze-thaw cycles that are a real concern in Colorado, where temperatures can swing dramatically. It also resists scale buildup better than metal pipe in hard-water conditions. Copper remains a premium option — highly durable, long-tested, and compatible with all fittings — but it typically costs more and requires more access points during installation.
Your plumber will discuss both options with you, including cost differences, longevity expectations, and what makes sense given your home’s layout and your plans for it.
Will My Water Be Off the Whole Time?
For most of the project, yes — the water supply needs to be off while new pipe is being run and connections are being made. Done’s team works efficiently to minimize the time your household is without water, and in many cases the water can be restored at the end of each workday so you’re not without it overnight. Your plumber will set expectations clearly at the start of the project.
After a repipe, you’ll typically notice improved water pressure, cleaner water, and fewer worries about surprise leaks. If your water heater is older, it’s worth evaluating at the same time — a new pipe system paired with an aging heater means the weakest link just shifted downstream. Visit our pipes and lines page for more information, or explore water heater services if you’re considering a combined project. For water quality concerns related to hard water, our water quality and treatment services can help. Schedule an assessment with Done today.
