Pipe Repair & Re-Piping by RO Unlimited
RO PlumbingPipe Repair & Re-Piping

Old Pipes Out.
Reliable Flow In.

Galvanized steel corrodes from the inside. Polybutylene cracks without warning. If your home was built before 1990 and still has original supply lines, every day is borrowed time. RO's plumbing crew replaces failing pipe systems with modern copper or PEX — restoring full water pressure, eliminating rust-colored water, and ending the cycle of patch repairs.

Everything You Need to Know

Pipe Repair & Re-Piping
Guide

01

What It Is

Pipe repair fixes isolated failures — pinhole leaks, corroded fittings, frozen pipe damage. Re-piping replaces the entire supply line system throughout your home, from the main shutoff to every fixture. Modern re-pipes use either copper (the gold standard, 50+ year lifespan) or PEX (cross-linked polyethylene, flexible, freeze-resistant, 25–50 year lifespan). The choice depends on your budget, home layout, and local code requirements.

02

When You Need It

Three pipe materials demand attention: Galvanized steel (pre-1960s) corrodes from the inside, building up scale that chokes water pressure and produces rust-colored water. Polybutylene (1978–1995, gray pipes) degrades from chlorine in municipal water and fails without warning — insurers often refuse coverage. Lead supply lines (pre-1950s) are a health hazard with no safe exposure level. If you have any of these, re-piping isn't optional.

03

What Drives the Scope

Repair or re-pipe is the first fork, and how many failures you have already had decides it more than pipe age does. After that it comes down to access and material. A crawlspace or unfinished basement lets us route new lines with almost no demolition; a slab home or a finished two-story means opening walls and ceilings and putting them back — and that drywall and paint work is a real part of the job, not an afterthought. Count your fixtures, because every one is another run and another set of connections. PEX flexes around framing and needs far fewer joints, so it goes in faster; copper needs a soldered joint at every turn, which is labor hours, not material. Timeline: spot repairs are same-day; a full re-pipe on a 1,500–2,500 sq ft home takes 2–5 days depending on size and how much of the old run we can actually reach. We tell you which walls have to open before we start.

04

Why It Matters Here

The red clay under these foothills swells and shrinks with the seasons, and that movement works on buried pipe and slab connections year after year — same story in Greenville and Easley as it is across the line in Toccoa or Hendersonville. Warm, humid summers accelerate corrosion in galvanized lines. And the water through most of this region, while safe, carries enough mineral load to build scale in aging pipe faster than it would in cooler, drier country. A re-pipe doesn't just fix today's leak; it eliminates the source of the next twenty.

See the Work

Pipe Repair & Re-Piping Gallery

Call Us If You See This

Warning
Signs

Rust-colored or brown water from hot taps

Galvanized pipes corrode from the inside. Discolored hot water means your galvanized supply lines are deteriorating and shedding iron oxide into your water.

Low water pressure throughout the house

If pressure is low at multiple fixtures, the pipes themselves are likely restricted by internal scale buildup — no amount of valve adjustment will fix corroded pipes.

Pinhole leaks appearing in copper lines

Pinhole leaks in copper indicate aggressive water chemistry eating through the pipe walls. One pinhole means more are coming — targeted repairs only buy time.

Visible corrosion or green staining at pipe joints

Green patina on copper fittings or white/orange crust on galvanized joints means active corrosion. The joints are the weakest points and fail first.

Your home has gray polybutylene pipes

Polybutylene was the subject of one of the largest building-products class actions in U.S. history, brought over catastrophic failure rates. If you see gray flexible pipes at your water heater or main shutoff, replacement is strongly recommended.

Water damage stains on walls or ceilings with no obvious source

Hidden leaks behind walls are common in older supply lines. By the time you see the stain, the leak has been active for days or weeks.

Your water heater was recently replaced but water is still discolored

If new equipment didn't fix the discolored water, the problem is the supply pipes feeding it — not the heater itself.

Protect Your Investment

Maintenance
Tips

How We Do It

Our
Process

01

Inspection & Assessment

We inspect your visible plumbing, check water pressure at multiple fixtures, identify pipe material and age, and look for signs of active corrosion or leaks. You get a clear assessment: repair or re-pipe.

02

Scope & Estimate

For re-pipes, we map every supply line run, plan the routing (PEX or copper), identify wall access points, and provide a detailed written estimate. No surprises mid-job.

03

Water Shutoff & Installation

We shut off the main water supply, remove the old piping (where accessible), and install new supply lines to every fixture. PEX uses manifold systems for fewer fittings; copper is soldered joint by joint.

04

Testing & Pressure Check

Every new line is pressure-tested to verify zero leaks before we close any walls. We check flow rates at every fixture and verify proper hot/cold separation.

05

Wall Repair & Cleanup

Any wall openings are patched and finished. We clean up all debris, remove old piping, and walk you through the new system — where shutoffs are, what to watch for, and when to call us.

Scope & Longevity

What Drives the Number

Material / Service
What Moves It
Lifespan
Spot Pipe Repair
How many failures already, and whether the leak is behind finished wall
5–15 years
Full Re-Pipe (PEX, 1,500 sq ft)
Fixture count, attic or crawlspace routing, drywall opened and patched back
25–50 years
Full Re-Pipe (Copper, 1,500 sq ft)
A soldered joint at every turn — labor hours, not material
50+ years
Full Re-Pipe (2,500 sq ft)
Second story, extra baths, and longer runs each add a day
25–50+ years
Polybutylene Replacement
Every gray line goes, including the buried service lateral if it's PB
25–50 years

Prices are estimates for Upstate SC — get a real quote for your project.

Common Questions

FAQ

Pipe Repair & Re-Piping — RO Unlimited
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Get Your
Quote

Call us directly or request a quote online. No pressure, no upselling — just honest answers about your pipe repair & re-piping needs.

(864) 304-0139