Waywest Mechanical provides whole-house repiping in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island, replacing a home's water supply piping with new PEX or copper. Repiping is recommended for homes with corroded galvanized steel, Poly-B, or copper with repeated pinhole leaks, and for homes with low pressure or rusty water. Waywest's licensed plumbers plan new routes to keep wall openings small, and the house remains livable during the work.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Signs your home needs repiping
- Leaks keep happening, in different places, a few months apart
- Rusty, brown or discoloured water, especially first thing in the morning
- Low pressure everywhere — showers, taps and appliances all weak
- Visible corrosion or green crust on exposed piping
- Poly-B or galvanized steel anywhere in the supply system
- Pinhole leaks in copper, which often indicate the pipe wall is thinning throughout
- Hot water that runs out or fluctuates because of restricted flow
One leak is a repair. A pattern of leaks means the material itself is failing.
Piping materials we replace
Galvanized steel. Common in older Island homes built before the 1970s. It corrodes from the inside, narrowing the pipe until pressure drops and rust flakes break loose. It also fails at threaded joints.
Poly-B (polybutylene). Installed from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, and prone to sudden failures at fittings. See our dedicated Poly-B replacement page.
Aging copper. Copper can last a very long time, but thin-wall copper and certain water conditions lead to pinhole leaks that recur.
Mixed systems. Many homes have been patched over decades with a combination of all three, plus mismatched fittings where materials meet.
How a repipe works
- Inspection and planning. We trace the current piping, identify the materials, and plan new routes through basements, crawlspaces, attics and interior walls.
- Written quote with scope, expected wall openings and schedule.
- Protection. Floors and belongings in work areas are covered.
- New main distribution. Often a PEX manifold near the water entry, with dedicated lines to each fixture — which also makes future repairs easier.
- Branch lines to fixtures, with new shut-off valves at sinks, toilets and appliances.
- Pressure test the full system before closing anything up.
- Disconnect and abandon or remove the old piping.
- Final testing of every fixture for flow, temperature and leaks.
Keeping disruption down
Repiping a lived-in house is a common job and we plan it so you can stay in the home. Water is typically turned off only while connections are being made and restored each evening. Flexible PEX allows lines to be fished through walls with small access openings rather than large sections of removed drywall.
Worth doing at the same time
- Water service line. If the pipe from the street is galvanized or Poly-B, consider replacing the water main at the same time.
- Hot water tank. An old tank connected to new piping is a good time to replace it — see hot water tanks.
- Pressure-reducing valve. Protects the new system from high municipal pressure.
- Renovations. If a kitchen or bathroom renovation is planned, coordinate the repipe with it.
Service area
Waywest repipes homes in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan, Chemainus and across our Vancouver Island service area.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
How do I know if my house needs repiping?
The common signs are repeated leaks in different places, rusty or discoloured water, low water pressure throughout the house, visible corrosion on exposed pipes, and piping known to fail such as Poly-B or old galvanized steel. A plumber can confirm the pipe material and condition during a service visit.
How long does it take to repipe a house?
Most single-family homes take several working days, depending on size, number of bathrooms, and how accessible the walls and ceilings are. Water is usually restored at the end of each day, so the house stays livable.
PEX or copper for repiping?
PEX is flexible, resists freezing damage better than rigid pipe, and can be fished through existing walls with fewer joints and smaller openings, which usually makes it faster and less disruptive. Copper is durable and preferred by some owners. Waywest explains the trade-offs for your house.
Does repiping include the drains?
Repiping normally refers to the water supply lines. Drain, waste and vent piping is a separate system; old cast-iron or deteriorated drains can be replaced at the same time if they need it, which is quoted separately.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.