Repiping & Whole-Home Pipe Replacement in Windsor, CO
For homes with pinhole leaks, rusty water, falling pressure or pipe material that is past its life. The old supply piping is replaced, with a written scope before the first wall is opened.
- PEX and copper options
- Pinhole leak diagnosis
- Phased scheduling
- Price before work starts
Pinhole leaks, rusty water, weak pressure, or the same pipe leaking again
A second or third leak in the same system, brown or orange water when a faucet first opens, pressure that fades at fixtures, and green stains on copper are the signs that pipe is wearing out from the inside. A single leak is a repair. Repeated leaks are a pattern.
Repiping, also called whole-home pipe replacement, replaces the supply piping that carries pressurized water to fixtures. It is chosen when repair after repair costs more than a new system, or when the material itself is known to fail.
Pipe materials and how each ages
| Material | Typical era | Known issues | Usual action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel | Homes built before the 1960s | Rust builds up inside, restricting flow and staining water | Replace the system |
| Copper | Common for decades | Pinholes from acidic or aggressive water, and soldered joints age | Spot repair, or replace if many leaks |
| Polybutylene (gray plastic) | Roughly 1978 to 1995 | Known to fail at fittings and crack from chlorine exposure | Replace the system |
| CPVC | Used since the 1980s | Can turn brittle with age and heat | Monitor, and repair or replace as needed |
| PEX | Widely used in current construction | Sensitive to sunlight and some chemicals when exposed | Usually fine, and a common replacement material |
Windsor has older homes near Main Street, platted in 1882, and many homes built in the last 20 years. Most repiping calls come from the older group, and newer homes more often need a targeted repair than a full replacement.
Spot repair or full repipe: a test
A leak search first, covered under leak detection, shows whether the pipe is failing along its length or at one point. If the failing pipe is the line from the meter, the work is water line repair or replacement and not a repipe.
Repair when
- Only one section has leaked
- The pipe material has no known failure pattern
- Water quality and pressure are fine elsewhere
- The home is newer than the pipe's failure window
Repipe when
- Leaks keep appearing in different places
- The pipe is galvanized or polybutylene
- Water is brown or orange at first draw
- Repair bills are approaching the cost of new pipe
Third leak in the same pipes?
Call and describe where the leaks have shown up.
What a repiping job involves
- 1
Survey and scope
The pipe routes, fixtures and access points are mapped, and a written scope is prepared.
- 2
Permit
The Town of Windsor requires a building permit to install or move plumbing, and re-piping is covered by that requirement.
- 3
Install new supply lines
New PEX or copper is run through walls, floors and the attic, usually by routing around finished surfaces where possible.
- 4
Test and connect
Each line is pressure-tested as the International Plumbing Code (IPC) requires, then connected to fixtures and the water heater.
- 5
Repair openings
Access holes in drywall are patched, and finish work is scheduled separately.
Windsor details that affect a repipe
The Town's most recent water report lists a required service line inventory and notes that lead in drinking water comes mainly from service lines and home plumbing. In the Town's 2024 sampling, 3 of 32 homes tested above the 15 parts per billion lead action level, though the system as a whole did not exceed it. An older home with unknown piping is worth a materials check.
Water also comes from three sources. The Town buys about 30 percent of its water from the City of Greeley and about 70 percent from Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and North Weld County Water District. Water chemistry affects pipe life, so ask your provider for its latest quality report if you are choosing a material.
What to do before a repiping crew arrives
- Clear access to the water heater, the main shutoff and the walls where pipe will run.
- Plan for the water to be off for part of each day.
- Move valuables and fragile items away from walls that will be opened.
- Confirm in writing who patches drywall and who paints.
- Ask for the permit number once it is issued.
What drives the price of a repipe
A repipe is priced by the size of the home, the number of fixtures and the access. A written scope and price come before any wall is opened.
Insurance rarely pays to replace worn pipe, though it may cover water damage from a sudden failure. Ask your agent, and keep the pipe condition notes with your records.
Repiping questions from Windsor homeowners
Repeated leaks in different places, brown water at first draw, falling pressure, and a known problem material such as galvanized steel or polybutylene are the usual signs.
A typical house takes a few days, depending on size and access. The schedule is part of the written scope, and the water is usually shut off for part of each day.
Both work. PEX is flexible and quick to install and handles cold weather better. Copper is long-lived and fire-resistant. The choice depends on the home, the water and the budget.
The Town requires a building permit to install or move plumbing, and re-piping falls under that. Ask when you call so the permit is part of the quote.
If corroded pipe is the cause, yes. If the cause is a failing pressure reducing valve or a street-side issue, the pipe is not the fix, which is why a pressure test comes first.
Yes, along with Severance, Timnath and Johnstown. Greeley has many older homes, and each town has its own page.
Repiping in Windsor
Get a written scope for new supply piping before a wall is opened.
☎ (970) 708-6013