Repair or repipe?
| Repair | Repipe | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaks | One leak, in pipe that's otherwise in good shape. | Repeated leaks in different places. |
| Pipe material | Modern pipe with a local failure. | Polybutylene, corroded galvanized steel, or aging pipe throughout. |
| Water quality and pressure | Normal. | Rusty or discolored water, or pressure that keeps dropping. |
| Cost | Lower now. | Higher now, but stops the cycle of repairs. |
PEX vs. copper
| PEX | Copper | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lower material and labor cost. | Higher. |
| Installation | Flexible, so it runs through walls with fewer fittings and less wall opening. | Rigid, with more joints. |
| Freeze tolerance | Expands somewhat, so it's more forgiving in a freeze. | More likely to split when frozen. |
| Sunlight | Must be protected from UV light. | Not affected by sunlight. |
| Lifespan | Long-lasting when installed correctly. | Long-lasting, though it can develop pinhole leaks in some water conditions. |
Polybutylene pipe
Gray polybutylene supply pipe was common in homes and manufactured homes built before the mid-1990s. It tends to fail at the fittings as it ages. If your home has polybutylene and you've had a leak, repiping is usually the better fix. See mobile and manufactured home plumbing if that's your home type.
Next steps: pipe repair in Pahrump or whole-house repiping.