veryamusing
New Member
Hi there! Thank you for sharing your expertise with me.
Background: I live in a ground floor condominium unit with about 550 square feet on concrete slab foundation. (Please see the attached photograph of the pipe(s) in question.) My current arrangement is one kitchen sink, one full-size dishwasher, one bathroom sink, one toilet, one tub / shower, and a small 30 gallon water heater.
On Friday afternoon, I noticed a pinhole leak in the supply line to my water heater. I taped it, and had a local independent plumber come out on Sunday to take a look. His $85 service call resulted in a rubber pad a hose clamp. Additionally, he said my pipes (circa 1972) were so bad that he recommended a complete repipe to the tune of $2000.
My questions for the forums are as follows:
1. I don't doubt that the repipe is necessary, but what questions should I ask of the prospective plumbers? Should I specify a certain pipe material, or let them make suggestions?
2. In addition to the new pipes, I would like to take this opportunity to add hook-ups for a washer and possibly regain some closet space by replacing the water heater with a tankless model. I have also been considering a bathroom remodel, to include new fixtures (sink, lavatory and shower). Is the repipe opportune for the bathroom remodel, or should I plan to complete this work in stages? The plumber advised me that the tankless water heater was a no-go because it would require an 80 amp circuit and possibly a new panel.
3. Another good reason to do the repipe is that I share a shutoff valve with my upstairs neighbor. The plumber said her supply lines go up through my unit, and he could replace just the pipes in my unit and reattach the old stuff going to her unit to the new stuff he is installing in my unit. And he also said I would have to run the new lines through the ceiling.
Just wondering if all of this sounds legit. Please let me know, and thank you very much for your time.
Ben in Orlando
Background: I live in a ground floor condominium unit with about 550 square feet on concrete slab foundation. (Please see the attached photograph of the pipe(s) in question.) My current arrangement is one kitchen sink, one full-size dishwasher, one bathroom sink, one toilet, one tub / shower, and a small 30 gallon water heater.
On Friday afternoon, I noticed a pinhole leak in the supply line to my water heater. I taped it, and had a local independent plumber come out on Sunday to take a look. His $85 service call resulted in a rubber pad a hose clamp. Additionally, he said my pipes (circa 1972) were so bad that he recommended a complete repipe to the tune of $2000.
My questions for the forums are as follows:
1. I don't doubt that the repipe is necessary, but what questions should I ask of the prospective plumbers? Should I specify a certain pipe material, or let them make suggestions?
2. In addition to the new pipes, I would like to take this opportunity to add hook-ups for a washer and possibly regain some closet space by replacing the water heater with a tankless model. I have also been considering a bathroom remodel, to include new fixtures (sink, lavatory and shower). Is the repipe opportune for the bathroom remodel, or should I plan to complete this work in stages? The plumber advised me that the tankless water heater was a no-go because it would require an 80 amp circuit and possibly a new panel.
3. Another good reason to do the repipe is that I share a shutoff valve with my upstairs neighbor. The plumber said her supply lines go up through my unit, and he could replace just the pipes in my unit and reattach the old stuff going to her unit to the new stuff he is installing in my unit. And he also said I would have to run the new lines through the ceiling.
Just wondering if all of this sounds legit. Please let me know, and thank you very much for your time.
Ben in Orlando