Repair, reroute or replace a water pipe?
Once a leak has been found, there are usually three ways to deal with it: fix the damaged spot, run a new pipe around the problem, or replace a longer section or the whole system. No single option is best for every home.
Should you repair, reroute or replace?
Ask whoever proposes the repair to explain why their option fits your pipe, not just which one they usually do.
What each option means
These are the four approaches you are likely to hear about. Our pipe repair and replacement page explains how this work is scoped as a service.
Spot repair
The damaged piece is exposed, cut out and replaced with a short new section or a repair fitting. The rest of the piping stays in place.
Reroute
The leaking section is capped and left in place, and a new pipe is run along a different route to serve the same fixtures. For a leak under a slab, the new line often goes overhead or through walls.
Sectional replacement
A longer run of pipe, such as one branch line or the buried service line to the house, is replaced while the rest of the system stays.
Full replacement (repipe)
Most or all supply piping in the building is replaced. This is a larger project and usually involves openings in several rooms.
How do repair, reroute and replacement compare?
| Spot repair | Reroute | Sectional replacement | Full repipe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | One leak point | One run, new path | One branch or line | Whole supply system |
| Typical disruption | Smallest opening, if reachable | Openings along the new path | Openings along the replaced run | Openings in many rooms |
| Fits best when | Single leak, sound surrounding pipe, good access | Hard-to-reach leak, especially under concrete | One run has repeat problems | Multiple leaks or deteriorated pipe throughout |
| Main trade-off | Rest of the pipe stays the same age/condition | New pipe takes a different, sometimes longer route | Leaves other runs as they are | Largest project and disruption |
| What it leaves behind | Original system with one repair | Abandoned section in place | Mixed old and new piping | New system |
Which questions should determine the scope?
| Question | Leans toward spot repair | Leans toward reroute/replace |
|---|---|---|
| Is this the first leak on this pipe? | Yes | No, there have been others |
| Can the leak be reached without major demolition? | Yes | No: under concrete, deep underground, behind finished tile |
| What condition is the pipe next to the leak in? | Looks sound when exposed | Visible corrosion, thinning or damage nearby |
| How confident is the leak location? | High, confirmed at access | Uncertain or more than one suspected area |
| Is other work planned? | No | Yes: remodel, flooring, new fixtures |
| How much disruption can you accept now? | Little | More now to avoid repeat openings later |
These are tendencies, not rules. A careful repairer weighs them together.
Special Case: Leaks Under a Concrete Slab
A slab leak can be repaired by opening the floor above it, or bypassed by rerouting.
Neither is automatically better. See slab leak repair for how that decision is usually made.
Special Case: Buried Yard Lines
For a leak on the buried line between the meter or well and the house:
Any digging in Arizona starts with an Arizona 811 locate request at least two full working days ahead. Private lines may not be marked by 811, so separate locating may be needed. See underground water line repair.
Multi-unit excavation exception: for excavations at apartment communities or mobile-home parks, A.R.S. § 40-360.22 adds a certified-mail inquiry to the landlord; the landlord may take up to ten working days to respond with marking of landlord-operated underground facilities. Do not dig until required markings or clearance are complete.
Special Case: Pipes Inside Walls and Ceilings
Leaks in walls and ceilings are usually the easiest to reach. Spot repair is common here, but the opening needed to reach the pipe can still be significant, especially behind tile or cabinets. See in-wall and ceiling pipe leak repair.
Pipe material matters, but it is not the whole story
Different materials age and fail in different ways, and some fittings and repair parts suit some materials better than others. Whoever evaluates the repair should identify:
Material alone does not decide the answer. Two homes with the same pipe can need different repairs because of access, age, and how many leaks there have been.
Signs a spot repair may not be the end of it
Permits and licensing
Larger repairs, reroutes and repipes may need a permit, depending on the work and jurisdiction. In Arizona, plumbing repair work is generally contracting work that requires the right Registrar of Contractors license unless an exemption applies. Ask whoever proposes the work whether a permit is needed, who pulls it, and what license covers the job.
Why do costs differ between repair options?
We do not list prices, because they depend on the specific job. The main factors are:
For detection costs specifically, see our guide to what affects leak detection costs.
Questions to ask whoever proposes the repair
Frequently asked questions
Want help weighing the options?
If you have a located leak and are trying to decide on a repair approach, call Kingman Leakcrest at (928) 437-2800.
Call (928) 437-2800