How do I know if I have a hidden leak somewhere?

A few signs: your water bill climbs without a change in use, you hear water running when every fixture is off, or you notice damp spots, warm areas on a slab floor, or unexplained mold. You can also check your water meter with everything shut off; if it's still moving, water is going somewhere. We can pinpoint the source without tearing the house apart.

What does whole-house repiping actually involve?

We replace the failing water supply lines throughout the home, typically with PEX or copper. We plan the routing to open as few walls as possible, do the work in stages to keep your water on where we can, then patch the access points. It's a bigger project, but for a home with old galvanized or polybutylene pipe, it ends the cycle of recurring leaks for good.

Should I be concerned about old galvanized pipes?

If your home still has galvanized steel supply lines, they're worth watching. Galvanized corrodes from the inside, which narrows the pipe and chokes your water pressure, and it can put rust into your water. Eventually it leaks. It doesn't all have to be replaced the day you find it, but it's smart to plan ahead rather than wait for repeated pinhole leaks to force the issue.

Is PEX or copper better for repiping?

Both are solid, modern choices and we install either. PEX is flexible, resists freeze damage better, installs with fewer fittings, and usually costs less. Copper is rigid, extremely long-lived, and some homeowners simply prefer it. For most Charlotte homes, PEX is an excellent value, but we'll talk through your priorities and the specifics of your house before recommending one.

Plumbing Service

Pipe Services, Repiping & Leak Detection in Charlotte, NC

Pipes are the part of your plumbing you never see until something goes wrong, and in an older Charlotte home, what's behind the wall is often aging galvanized steel or cast iron that's been corroding from the inside for decades. Elite Plumbing handles the full range of pipe work: pinpointing a hidden leak before it ruins drywall, repairing a damaged section, and whole-house repiping when the old material is past saving. We use leak-detection methods that find the source without tearing open every wall to look. When repiping makes sense, we lay out the scope, the modern materials we'd use like PEX or copper, and what to expect, so a big decision is made with full information, not pressure.

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Signs you need pipes

An unexplained jump in your water bill with no visible leak
Low water pressure throughout the house, not just one fixture
Discolored, rusty, or metallic-tasting water from the taps
The sound of running water when everything is shut off
Damp spots, warm floors, or mold with no obvious source
Old galvanized or polybutylene pipes known to fail with age
Frequent, repeated pinhole leaks in the same area of piping

How we handle it

1
Detect and pinpoint the leak
We use pressure testing and leak-location methods to find a hidden leak's exact spot, including slab and behind-wall leaks, so we open only what's necessary instead of guessing and patching drywall blindly.
2
Assess the pipe's condition
We determine whether you have an isolated failure or a system-wide problem. One pinhole leak in old galvanized pipe is rarely the last; we tell you honestly whether a spot repair or a repipe is the smarter spend.
3
Repair or repipe with modern materials
For a single failure, we make a clean, lasting repair. For a failing system, we repipe with PEX or copper, planned to minimize wall openings and downtime, and explain why each material fits your home.
4
Test, restore, and verify pressure
We pressure-test the new work, confirm there are no leaks, and check that pressure and water quality are restored throughout the house before we close anything up. You'll know exactly what was replaced.

FAQ

Common plumbing questions, answered straight.

Straight answers to the plumbing questions Charlotte homeowners ask most.

Still have questions?

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