MAMBA DRAINAGE SERVICES
Pipe Replacement Vancouver
Poly B failing fitting by fitting? Galvanized supply rusting through? Cast-iron stack leaking inside a finished basement? We pull it all out and put modern pipe in clean.
Whole-house repipe, spot replacement, drain stack replacement. Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Surrey, Delta. Free written quotes. Call (778) 961-0824.
Need Pipe Replacement in Vancouver?
Three Vancouver pipe failures keep us busiest: Poly B supply lines from 1978-1995 builds, galvanized steel water pipe in pre-1960 East Van houses, and cast iron drain stacks installed before 1985. Each one fails its own way and each one drives insurance claims that are getting harder to renew.
Poly B (polybutylene) was installed across Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, and South Vancouver subdivisions through the late 80s and early 90s. The pipe itself can last decades. The acetal fittings can’t – they crack at the threads, leak slowly behind drywall for months, and finally fail catastrophically. BC insurance companies are tightening policy renewals on homes still piped in Poly B. Many policies now require a full repipe certificate before renewal.
Galvanized steel was the standard supply line in Vancouver from the 1920s through the early 1960s. It corrodes from the inside out. Internal pipe diameter narrows from 3/4″ to barely 1/4″ before the homeowner sees rust water at the tap. Pressure drops, hot water gets sluggish, then one joint finally pinholes. We pull galvanized weekly from Strathcona, Hastings-Sunrise, and Mount Pleasant homes.
Cast iron stacks – the vertical drain pipe that runs from the bathroom down through the basement – corrode and crack at the hub joints, especially in pre-1985 East Vancouver houses. A failing stack leaks sewage into the wall cavity slowly, and tenants notice the smell long before the visible damage.
For all three, we plan the work, pull permits with the City of Vancouver or relevant municipality, repipe in modern materials (PEX or copper for supply, ABS or PVC for drainage), and leave you with a clean inspection report and certificate of work.
Poly B Repipe - The Most Common Job We Do
Whole-house Poly B repipe in a typical 2,200 sq ft Burnaby home takes our crew four to six days. We plan around your bathrooms so you have one functional shower throughout the job.
The replacement material is Uponor or Wirsbo PEX-A with expansion-ring fittings. PEX-A is the gold-standard residential supply line – flexible enough to snake through finished framing without cutting more than a few inspection windows, corrosion-proof, and freeze-tolerant if the unthinkable happens. Expansion-ring fittings have a 90-year track record and zero recall history (the opposite of Poly B’s acetal joints).
We start at the manifold near the main shut-off, run home-runs to each fixture, pressure-test the new system at 100 PSI for an hour, then transition to your existing fixtures one bathroom at a time. Drywall patching, paint matching, and texture restoration are part of the quote.
Typical Burnaby or Surrey Poly B repipe ranges $9,800-$16,500 depending on house size, number of bathrooms, and access. We give a firm written quote after a 30-minute walk-through.
Galvanized to PEX or Copper
Pre-1960 Vancouver homes – the Hastings-Sunrise stucco bungalows, Strathcona row houses, Mount Pleasant two-storeys – were piped in galvanized steel. After 60-70 years that pipe is choked with internal rust. You’ll see brown water for the first thirty seconds at any tap, hot water taking forever to arrive at the third-floor shower, and pressure that’s dropped from 65 PSI at the meter to 22 PSI at the kitchen sink.
Replacement choices: PEX-A for cost-effective repipes ($8,400-$14,500 typical), or Type-L copper for buyers who want copper resale value ($14,500-$24,000 typical). We solder copper joints with lead-free 95/5 solder per BC plumbing code, or use Viega ProPress fittings where we can’t get a torch in safely (close to old framing, joist insulation, etc.).
We coordinate with City of Vancouver inspectors for the rough-in and final inspection, leave you with the stamped permit, and produce a certificate of work for your insurance file.
Cast Iron Drain Stack Replacement
Cast iron drain stacks corrode from the inside, then crack at the hub joints. Symptoms: rust stains on the basement wall behind the stack, sewer smell on the ground floor, slow drains throughout the upstairs bathroom.
For partial replacement – one section of stack between two bathrooms, for example – we cut and remove the failed cast iron, install ABS or no-hub cast iron with neoprene Mission couplings, and re-tie the existing branch lines with band clamps. Typical partial: $1,800-$3,400.
For full stack replacement (basement floor up through the roof vent), the work is more invasive but the resale value premium is real. New ABS, hub-style PVC, or no-hub cast iron from clean-out to roof vent. We pull permits, schedule the rough and final inspections, and produce a stamped certificate. Typical full stack: $4,800-$9,200 in a standard two-story Vancouver house, more for taller condos or commercial.
Cast iron failures often appear alongside repeat drain blockages – the rusted interior catches every piece of debris that goes down it. We scope the stack on camera before recommending replacement vs. spot repair.
Pipe Replacement Services We Offer
Whole-House Poly B Repipe
Full replacement of polybutylene supply lines with Uponor or Wirsbo PEX-A. Manifold install, home-runs to each fixture, pressure test, drywall patching and paint match included. Typical 2,200 sq ft Burnaby or Surrey home: $9,800-$16,500. Permit and certificate included for insurance renewal.
Galvanized to PEX or Copper
Pre-1960 East Van houses choked with internal rust get a full supply-side repipe. PEX-A option $8,400-$14,500. Type-L copper with lead-free 95/5 solder or Viega ProPress: $14,500-$24,000. City of Vancouver permit, rough and final inspection, certificate of work in your file.
Cast Iron Stack Replacement
Partial stack ($1,800-$3,400) or full stack from clean-out to roof vent ($4,800-$9,200 typical). ABS, PVC, or no-hub cast iron with Mission neoprene couplings. Camera inspection before and after. Stamped permit and inspection certificate.
Spot Pipe Repair
Single-section replacement for a visible leak: 2-6 foot section of copper or PEX, transition couplings to existing materials, pressure check before drywall closes. $289-$689 typical depending on access and pipe diameter. For full-line replacement see whole-house options.
Lead Service Line Replacement
Some pre-1950 Vancouver homes still have lead service lines from the City water main to the house. City of Vancouver runs a lead service line replacement program with cost-sharing. We handle the homeowner-side trench excavation or trenchless pull-through. See our trenchless water line replacement page for the no-dig option.
Drain Pipe Replacement
Branch drain lines (kitchen sink, bathroom, laundry) from the trap arm back to the main stack. ABS or PVC replacement with mechanical joint clamps where access is tight. Vent re-tie and traps reset. Typical: $589-$1,289 per branch depending on length and access.
Why Vancouver Homeowners Trust Mamba for Repipes
One Bathroom Online Every Night
We plan repipes so you always have at least one functional shower and toilet at the end of every work day. No “we’ll be done in a week, please find somewhere to stay.” Most families never leave home during a Mamba repipe.
Drywall, Paint, and Texture Restored
Repipes need access cuts in walls and ceilings. We restore everything in matching paint, knockdown or orange-peel texture per your existing finish, and crown moulding refit. Quote includes all restoration – no separate drywall contractor required.
Permits, Inspections, Certificates
We pull permits, schedule the City of Vancouver (or relevant municipal) rough-in and final inspections, and produce a stamped certificate of work. The certificate is what your insurance company asks for at renewal time.
Fixed-Price Repipes, No Time-and-Materials
One quote, one final price. If we open a wall and find something unexpected, we stop, show you the issue on camera or photo, and re-quote the additional work in writing before continuing. No surprise invoices.
Vancouver Pipe Replacement Price Ranges
Brackets from recent Vancouver and Greater Vancouver work:
Whole-house Poly B repipe (2,200 sq ft, 2 bath): $9,800-$16,500 including permits, drywall restoration, paint match.
Galvanized-to-PEX whole-house: $8,400-$14,500 for a typical East Van bungalow.
Galvanized-to-copper (Type-L) whole-house: $14,500-$24,000.
Cast iron stack partial replacement (1-2 floors): $1,800-$3,400.
Cast iron stack full replacement (basement to roof): $4,800-$9,200 in a standard 2-storey.
Spot pipe repair (2-6 foot section): $289-$689.
Drain branch replacement: $589-$1,289 per branch.
Lead service line replacement (trenchless, homeowner portion): $4,500-$8,500 – cost shareable with City of Vancouver lead replacement program for eligible properties.
Every quote is fixed-price before work begins, with re-quote stops if scope changes.
Poly B leaking inside the wall is a six-figure claim. A planned repipe is a five-figure project. Get ahead of it.
9 Pipe Replacement Tips for Vancouver Homes
- Find out what pipe is in your walls. Open the wall behind the laundry tub or check the visible piping in your basement. Grey plastic = Poly B. Galvanized steel looks like rusted iron. Copper is shiny pink-orange. PEX is colored plastic (red, blue, white).
- Poly B requires a written repipe certificate at most insurance renewals. Check your policy renewal date. If Poly B is in the home, plan the repipe 4-6 months before renewal.
- Don’t wait for a flood to replace galvanized. By the time you see rust at the tap, internal pipe diameter is 1/3 of original. The next pinhole is a question of when, not if.
- Cast iron stack failure usually shows in the bathroom first. Persistent sewer smell on the second floor, slow drains throughout the upstairs bathroom – get the stack scoped before you finish that basement.
- PEX-A vs PEX-B vs PEX-C. PEX-A (Uponor, Wirsbo) is the most flexible and freeze-tolerant. PEX-B is fine for budget jobs. PEX-C is rare in BC. We use PEX-A on every residential repipe.
- If you’re renovating a kitchen or bathroom anyway, repipe that wall now. Marginal cost during a reno is a fraction of the standalone job.
- Get the permit certificate in writing. Plumbing without a permit is non-compliant and complicates resale. Mamba pulls permits on every repipe; your file gets the stamped certificate.
- Test the work before drywall closes. A 100 PSI pressure test for one hour proves the new system holds. Mamba never closes a wall before a witnessed pressure test.
- Save the manifold layout drawing. A PEX manifold-and-home-run layout means future shut-offs at a single fixture instead of the whole house. Keep the drawing taped inside the manifold cabinet door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typical 2,200 sq ft 2-bathroom home: 4-6 working days from start to final inspection. We plan the work so you always have one functional bathroom at the end of every day. Most families stay in the home throughout.
Almost never. We work one zone at a time so the rest of the house stays online. Water is off only during the brief window we’re tying the new manifold to the city service – typically 2-4 hours on day one.
Both. PEX-A (Uponor or Wirsbo) is our default – flexible, freeze-tolerant, faster install, lower cost. Type-L copper is recommended where you want the resale-value premium and traditional look. We quote both side-by-side so you can decide on cost vs. material preference.
Yes. Most BC insurers require a stamped permit and certificate of work showing Poly B or galvanized has been fully replaced. Mamba pulls the permit, coordinates City of Vancouver (or relevant municipal) inspections, and emails you the certificate for your renewal file.
Included in our quote. We patch all access cuts, retexture to match (knockdown, orange peel, smooth), and paint-match your existing wall finish. Most homeowners can’t find where the access cuts were six months later.
Typical 2,200 sq ft Burnaby or Surrey home with 2 bathrooms: $9,800-$16,500 including permits, manifold, fixture re-ties, drywall and paint restoration, City inspection, and certificate of work. We give a firm written quote after a 30-minute walk-through.
Yes – if only one branch is failing or one bathroom is on bad pipe, we can isolate and replace that section. For Poly B specifically, insurers usually want the full house done, but for galvanized and cast iron, partial replacement is common and often the right call.
Day 1 and the final inspection day, yes. Middle days you can come and go – we’re inside the walls, not in your face. We carry keys (with your permission, in a code-secured lockbox) so you don’t need to be home every minute.
10-year workmanship warranty on whole-house repipes. PEX-A pipe carries the manufacturer’s 25-year warranty. Copper joints carry a lifetime workmanship warranty from our crew. Documentation in your inbox the day final inspection passes.
THE UTMOST QUALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM, 24/7
QUALITY IS OUR GAME
Mamba Drainage strives to deliver excellence one client at a time by upholding our core values throughout our services. We believe honest and meaningful work creates and sustains the foundation for exceptional client relations.