Repiping in Montclair, CA

Symptoms of tired pipe

• Rust-tinted water from the tub or kitchen tap
• Pressure that has slowly dropped over the years
• Recurring leaks inside walls or under the slab
• Corrosion on the pipe where it leaves the wall at fixtures
• A main shutoff valve that will not close fully

Montclair's older housing

Montclair grew out of citrus orchards after World War II, and city-stats.com puts its median year built at 1969. Houses of that age were often plumbed with galvanized steel, which rusts from the inside until the opening is a fraction of its original size. The City of Montclair itself advises owners of older homes to have a plumber check for problems such as pipe corrosion or lead from old pipes.

Water and sewer are handled by separate agencies. Monte Vista Water District supplies the water, and the City of Montclair runs the sewer system. The city refers water quality and main water line questions to MVWD at (909) 624-0035. If your project includes the line from the meter to the house, a call to MVWD can clarify what is theirs and what is yours before anyone digs.

Most homes in Montclair sit on slabs, so a plumber will usually run new lines through the attic and down interior walls instead of tearing up floors.

PEX and copper are both common choices. PEX bends around framing with fewer joints and usually goes in faster; copper is rigid, handles high heat near the water heater well and has a long track record. Some plumbers mix the two, using copper at the heater and PEX for the long runs. With homes this old, it also pays to replace angle stops and supply hoses at every fixture so new pipe does not feed into 50-year-old valves.

What moves the price

• The number of bathrooms, the kitchen, laundry and outdoor spigots
• Attic height and access
• Material choice and how many fittings are needed
• Whether the main shutoff and the water heater connections are replaced
• Wall and ceiling patching

Once you call

The number puts you in touch with an independent local plumber who works in Montclair. Have the age of the home and your recent leak history ready. The City of Montclair Building Department handles permits and inspections; the plumber usually arranges both.