Whole-House Repiping
Galvanized lines that deliver rusty water and weak pressure are the clearest sign a house needs new supply piping throughout.
See the detailsRepipe and ADU plumbing for Pacoima homes (91331)
Low water pressure from old galvanized lines, a garage or backyard unit that needs its own water and sewer, and laterals full of roots are what most Pacoima homeowners call us about.
Plumbing in Pacoima, in short
Pacoima's housing is mostly small postwar single-family homes on modest lots, and many now have a back unit or converted garage. Our typical work here is replacing galvanized supply pipe, sizing water and sewer for an ADU, clearing and repairing clay laterals, and replacing worn water heaters. We look at the whole system first, since a new unit loads the same old lines.
How we cover Pacoima
Pacoima sits in the northeast Valley between the 5, the 118 and the 210, with Hansen Dam to the east and Whiteman Airport near its center. Most of its residential streets were built out in the 1940s and 1950s with one-story houses on slabs, many of them still on original plumbing or a patchwork of repairs made over the years.
In recent years, a lot of Pacoima lots have added an accessory dwelling unit or converted a garage into living space. That's good use of the land, but the original water service and sewer lateral were sized for one house. Before an ADU plumbing plan is final, we check the meter size, the main, the lateral and the pressure to see whether they can carry a second kitchen and bathroom.
Homes and pipes
The houses and lots we work on in Pacoima
- Postwar slab homesMost houses are one-story postwar homes on slabs, so supply and drain lines run under the floor or through narrow interior walls.
- Galvanized supply linesOriginal galvanized steel pipe is still common, and it corrodes from the inside until faucets and showers barely run.
- Back units and garage conversionsMany lots now carry a second dwelling whose drains tie into the existing lateral and whose water branches off the original main.
- Clay laterals under mature treesSewer lines from this era are usually clay, and roots from yard and parkway trees grow into the joints over time.
What people call about
Plumbing work Pacoima homeowners ask for
ADU Plumbing
Back units and garage conversions need water, sewer and often gas sized correctly, with tie-ins that pass LADBS inspection.
See the detailsMain Water Line Replacement
Adding a unit or new fixtures often exposes an undersized or leaking main between the meter and the house.
See the detailsMain Line Clog Clearing
A lateral now serving two households backs up more often, especially where roots have already narrowed the pipe.
See the detailsWater Heater Replacement
Tank heaters fight hard water, and many sit in garages that are being converted, so they often need to move or switch to tankless.
See the detailsGas Line Installation
A new range, dryer or water heater in a back unit usually means a new gas branch sized for the added load.
See the detailsPlanning a back unit or repipe in Pacoima
The first question on any ADU is where the sewer goes. If the back unit sits lower than the house lateral, it may need a pump; if it's higher, we can usually tie in by gravity with a new wye and a cleanout. We run a camera through the existing lateral before tie-in, since joining a new unit to a cracked clay line just moves the problem. Our ADU plumbing guide walks through the order of decisions.
On the water side, we size the line from the meter based on every fixture the property will have, not just the new ones. Older 3/4 inch galvanized mains often can't keep up, so replacing the main and the house supply together saves trenching twice. A whole-house repipe in PEX or copper usually takes a few days in a home this size.
Permits for both repipes and ADUs in Pacoima go through LADBS. We handle the plumbing permit and inspections, and work alongside your general contractor or designer when one is involved. We work the same way next door in San Fernando, which runs its own building department, and in Sylmar.
Questions we hear
Questions from Pacoima
Can my Pacoima sewer lateral handle a new ADU?
Sometimes, but we check before assuming. A clay lateral that already has roots or cracks will back up more often once a second household drains into it. We camera the line from the house to the street, note the pipe size and condition, and tell you whether it can stay, needs a spot repair, or should be replaced before the new unit goes in.
How much does it cost to repipe a Pacoima house?
Typical ranges, not a quote: a one-story house with two or three bedrooms usually runs about $5,000 to $11,000 in PEX and more in copper. The number of bathrooms, wall access, drywall patching and whether the main from the meter is replaced at the same time all change the price. We give you a range after seeing the house.
Do I need a separate water meter for an ADU in Pacoima?
Not always. Many ADUs in the City of Los Angeles share the main house meter, as long as the service and meter are large enough for the combined fixtures. Some owners choose a separate LADWP meter for billing reasons. We calculate the demand and explain the tradeoffs, and your designer or LADWP confirms the meter decision.
What are the signs of galvanized pipe failure in a Pacoima home?
Weak pressure at showers and the kitchen, brown water after the lines sit overnight, and small leaks at threaded joints are the common ones. Pressure often drops at the far end of the house first. Once you see those signs in several places, patching one section usually just pushes the problem to the next fitting.
Next door
Nearby areas we also cover
Sylmar 91342
Water heater, gas line and seismic shutoff work for Sylmar's foothill houses, horse properties and newer tracts, with calls answered at any hour.
Local detailsSan Fernando 91340
Sewer, drain and repipe work for the City of San Fernando's older bungalows and post-war houses, with water heater and gas service around the clock.
Local detailsSun Valley 91352
Sewer, main line and yard drainage work for Sun Valley houses on larger lots, plus shops and yards near the 5 and 170, answered any hour.
Local detailsPanorama City 91402
Drain, sewer and water heater work for Panorama City houses and the apartment buildings along its main streets, with calls answered at any hour.
Local detailsPlumbing trouble in Pacoima?
One phone line, answered around the clock. Tell us the street and what you are seeing.