Audience: Both Condo and Apartments

Though it’s often feared, pipe replacement is an inevitable scenario for multi-family communities. Whether your building’s piping system has reached the end of its useful life or there are faulty materials causing failures around the property, there’s simply no way to ignore leaks. And while it may be tempting to tackle a pipe replacement project on your own to save on budget, DIY pipe replacement can actually lead to higher costs and even bigger headaches over time.

Out of sight, out of mind? Not so fast.

It’s easy to forget about what’s behind the walls of your building. But when there’s a problem with your piping system, out of sight becomes top of mind very fast. Pipe failures can quickly get out of control, with leaks leading to damage to walls and ceilings, costing big money to fix. Even small pinhole leaks that remain undetectable for a time can lead to long-term moisture and mold issues, potentially endangering the health of residents.

Does The Idea Of A Capital Improvement Project For Your Community Give You Anxiety? Properties may be reluctant to undertake large capital improvement projects because they are unsure where to start or whether they will see a return on investment.

Prioritizing projects at your community can be tricky. Is it more urgent to replace the roof, repair the elevator, or tackle less visible issues, like pipe replacement?

When approached by apartment and condominium communities about replacing their failing pipes, we are often asked the question, “Is it possible to repipe in phases, over a number of years, to help defer the costs?” After 30 years of experience in the industry, we can safely say that while this is technically feasible, and sometimes even makes sense over a shorter (2-3 year) period of time, to phase a pipe replacement project over longer durations is almost never advisable.