Repiping · San Francisco, CA
Whole-House Repiping in San Francisco, CA
62% of homes in the San Francisco ZIP codes we cover were built before 1960, when galvanized steel supply pipe was standard. A whole-house repipe replaces it, usually with PEX or copper, in a few working days.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 29 ZIP codes covered
- Quote before work
Why San Francisco homes get repiped
62% of homes in San Francisco's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960 (62%, above the California figure of 27%). That ranks 1st highest of the 151 California cities we profile. Homes of that age were plumbed with galvanized steel, which rusts from the inside until pressure drops and the water runs brown.
45% of the housing predates 1940. Many of those homes have had partial repairs over the decades, so it's common to find copper or PEX spliced into old galvanized runs, and those joints are where leaks start.
In California: Mountain and high-desert areas freeze hard in winter, unlike most of the coast.
Permits
A repipe normally needs a permit and inspection from your city or county, and the written quote should say whether wall patching is included.
San Francisco figures behind this page
- Built before 1940
- 45%
- Built 1940–1959
- 17%
- Built 1960–1979
- 15%
- Single-family detached
- 18%
What affects the price
- Number of bathrooms and fixtures
- Single story vs. two story
- Attic access and clearances
- Drywall patching and texture matching
The plumber quotes on site, before any work starts.
How the job works
Signs, the step-by-step process, cost factors and what you can safely do yourself are on our whole-house repiping guide. For the rest of San Francisco's plumbing picture, see plumbers in San Francisco and drains & sewer in San Francisco.
Whole-House Repiping in San Francisco: FAQ
How common is galvanized pipe in San Francisco?
It's likely in many of the 62% of local homes built before 1960 that haven't been repiped. Check where the main enters the house: galvanized is dull gray steel with threaded joints, and a magnet sticks to it.
Nearby
ZIP codes covered in San Francisco: 94102, 94103, 94104, 94105, 94107, 94108, 94109, 94110, 94111, 94112, 94114, 94115, 94116, 94117, 94118, 94121, 94122, 94123, 94124, 94127, 94128, 94129, 94130, 94131, 94132, 94133, 94134, 94143, 94158
Figures are US Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in San Francisco; state comparisons use the California statewide estimate.
Need whole-house repiping in San Francisco?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.