Repiping in Ontario, CA | Plumber Riverside CA

Ontario's median home was built around 1980, so a large share of houses have supply pipe that is more than 40 years old. A repipe replaces it with PEX or copper when leaks, corrosion or weak flow become a pattern. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Ontario.

New PEX repipe lines running through open wall framing in a home under renovation, repiping in Ontario, CA

Is my Ontario house old enough to need it?

It depends on where it is. Ontario was founded in 1881 by the Chaffey brothers as an irrigated citrus "model colony," and the blocks around downtown were the first to be built up. City-stats.com puts the citywide median year built at 1980, which puts roughly half the homes past the four-decade mark. In those houses, galvanized steel and early copper are the usual suspects behind recurring leaks and rusty water.

Ontario Ranch, on the south side of the city, is a different story. Homes there are much newer, and a leak usually traces to one fitting or a construction defect rather than worn-out pipe.

Does Ontario's water affect the pipes?

The Ontario Municipal Utilities Company supplies water citywide. Its 2025 Consumer Confidence Report lists city groundwater hardness averaging 124 mg/L, imported water averaging 91 mg/L, and purchased groundwater averaging 137 to 177 mg/L. That is moderately hard to hard, so scale builds up at valves, fixture connections and the water heater over time. Hard water alone rarely eats through pipe, but it is worth weighing when choosing fittings or deciding whether to add a softener while the main is open.

OMUC also reports that its lead service line inventory confirmed no lead service lines in its system. That covers the line feeding your property; the copper or galvanized pipe inside the house is a separate question for a plumber.

Who handles the permit?

The City of Ontario Building Department issues building permits, and applications are submitted electronically through the city's Citizen Portal Access website. A plumber doing a repipe normally files the application and schedules inspections. Ask that the permit and final inspection be included in the quote.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Ontario.

(951) 489-1530

A note on sewer

A supply repipe does not touch the drain system, but owners often ask about both. In Ontario, OMUC manages the city's gravity sewer lines and the Inland Empire Utilities Agency treats the wastewater. If your plumber spots trouble with old drain lines while walls are open, that is a separate conversation worth having while access is easy. Bundling related work can save a second round of wall openings later.

Repiping questions in Ontario

Is a repipe a good time to add a pressure regulator or a softener?

Often. With Ontario's water ranging from about 91 to 177 mg/L depending on source, some owners add a softener while the main line is open, and having pressure checked is sensible during any repipe.

Does the water utility's service line inventory say anything about the pipes in my walls?

No. OMUC confirmed no lead service lines in its system, but that inventory does not cover the plumbing inside your home.

Do newer homes ever need repiping?

Less often. In newer areas such as Ontario Ranch, a leak usually traces to a single fitting or construction flaw. A plumber can test whether the problem is isolated.

How much drywall gets opened during a repipe?

Expect several small openings, often in closets, behind fixtures and along ceilings, rather than whole walls. Confirm whether patching is included.