When repiping makes sense.
A single repair is the right answer when one joint fails in an otherwise good system. Repiping is the right answer when the system itself is failing, with leaks that keep appearing in new places, rust in the water, low flow at several fixtures or pipe that is crumbling when touched.
Many Garfield houses were plumbed in galvanized steel before copper became common. Galvanized pipe corrodes from the inside, narrowing until the flow drops and the walls thin. Ask yourself if the last three repairs were on the same age of pipe. According to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, you can look up a plumber's license online before you hire, and we suggest you do that for a repipe, since the project is large and permitted.
Signs your pipes are near the end.
Repeated pinhole leaks.
Small leaks in several places point to systemic corrosion.
Brown or orange water.
Rust inside galvanized pipe gets into the supply.
Low pressure everywhere.
Narrowed pipe reduces flow even if the street pressure is fine.
Visible corrosion or green stains.
Greenish crust on copper joints or white mineral crust on galvanized pipe.
Age of the house.
Original plumbing from the mid twentieth century is often at or past its life.
Lead or lead solder.
Older copper systems may have lead solder at joints. See your water supplier for guidance.
Copper or PEX.
Both are accepted in New Jersey when installed to code. We recommend one based on your house, your walls and your budget.
Copper.
- Long track record and rigid, neat runs.
- Works well in exposed cellar runs.
- Higher material cost and more labor.
- Can pinhole in aggressive water.
PEX.
- Flexible and quick to route through walls.
- Fewer fittings and less wall opening.
- Lower material cost.
- Must be protected from sunlight and some chemicals.
How a repipe works.
Survey.
We trace the existing lines, find access points and plan the new routes.
Written scope and schedule.
You see the price, the shutoff time and which walls will open.
Rough in.
New lines go in alongside the old, and fixtures are connected one zone at a time.
Test and inspect.
We pressure test, arrange any required inspection and restore water.
Living through a repipe.
A whole house repipe usually takes a few days, depending on the size of the house. Water is shut off for part of each day, and we try to keep a bathroom or kitchen usable. In a two family house, we coordinate with the other unit so both households know the schedule.
Wall openings are kept small, often at closets, behind fixtures and in cellar ceilings. Patching drywall or plaster is a separate trade, and we tell you where openings will be so you can plan.
Why Garfield water matters here.
The City of Garfield's 2018 water quality report says hardness is above the recommended range and that it scales pipes. Scale builds inside older pipe and can speed failures at fittings. A new system with a water conditioner or a plan for yearly water heater flushing helps protect the investment.
If you are thinking about the water heater at the same time, see water heater replacement, since both projects touch the same cellar space.
What changes the price of a repipe.
A repipe is quoted after a survey, in writing, with what is included and what is left to other trades.
If something is leaking today.
Start with burst pipe repair or leak detection to stop the damage. Repiping homes in Lodi, Wallington and Saddle Brook follows the same process.
Questions homeowners ask us.
Several leaks in different spots, rusty water, low pressure throughout and old galvanized pipe are the usual signs.
Many homes take a few days. Larger houses and two family buildings take longer.
Both are accepted when installed to code. PEX is faster to install and less invasive. Copper has a longer history.
A few small openings are usual. We plan them to limit damage and tell you where before we start.
Yes, repiping normally needs a permit. We handle the filing with the City of Garfield.
Yes. Partial repipes work when only a section is failing, such as a cellar run or one bathroom.
Written by the Garfield Express Plumbing team. Updated October 16, 2026.