Apex has some of the newest housing in the Triangle, so a full repipe is the exception here, not the rule. It still comes up in older downtown houses, in 1980s and 1990s homes with polybutylene, and after repeated failures in one part of the system. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Apex.
Apex housing and water, briefly
The median Apex home was built in 2008, and fewer than 4% predate 1980, per Census survey data. Most houses here have plastic supply pipe that is nowhere near the end of its life. The older stock is concentrated around the Apex Historic District downtown and in the earliest subdivisions, which is where galvanized steel, early copper or polybutylene are most likely to turn up.
The water itself is gentle on pipe. Apex's water quality report describes it as moderately soft, about 1.9 grains per gallon, treated at the Cary/Apex plant from Jordan Lake and disinfected with chloramine, with a spring switch to chlorine. The town reports finding no lead or galvanized service lines that need replacing, and homes built before 1988 can request a free service line inspection. Apex owns the public side of the service line; the private side to the house is yours.
One local rule worth knowing: Apex requires a permit for plumbing fixture work and same-size water line replacement, so a repipe of any size here is permitted and inspected by Apex Building Inspections and Permitting.
Three ways to deal with failing pipe
| Option | When it fits | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | One leak in otherwise sound pipe, common in newer Apex homes | Fast, but doesn't help if the material itself is failing |
| Partial repipe | One wing, one bathroom group or a run of bad fittings | Less disruption; old and new pipe remain side by side |
| Whole-house repipe | Polybutylene throughout, or galvanized in an older downtown house | Most work up front, but resets the whole system |
Signs it's more than a one-off leak
- Leaks at several fittings of the same type, often on polybutylene
- Gray plastic supply tubing stamped PB at the water heater or under sinks
- Discolored water in an older downtown house
- A home inspection report that calls out the supply pipe material
Timing a repipe
A repipe means the water is off for parts of several days, so many families plan it around school breaks or travel. Avoid starting during a hard freeze if the plumber will be working in a vented crawl space. If you're buying or selling, ask about the permit timing, since Apex inspects the work before it can be closed up.
Repiping questions in Apex
Our house is fairly new. Could it still need new pipes?
Do I need a permit to repipe, and who issues it?
My town did a service line inventory. Does it tell me about the pipes inside?
My home inspector mentioned polybutylene. What should I do?
More plumbing services in Apex
Repiping nearby
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