Whole House Repiping in Kennesaw, GA

A whole house repiping job is judged by how the finished system performs for years, and much of that depends on details a homeowner never sees: how the lines are sized, how they are fastened and protected, and how they are tested before the walls close. Alpha Plumbing and Sewer explains those details to Kennesaw homeowners in plain language, so you know what good work looks like and what to ask about.

Sizing the new lines

Pipe size depends on how many fixtures a line serves and how far the water has to travel. Main lines carry water for the whole house and are larger than the branches feeding individual fixtures. Get it wrong and the new system reproduces the very symptoms the owner wanted to escape: a weak shower and a sharp drop whenever two fixtures run together. One detail matters with PEX in particular. Its walls are thicker than copper's, so at the same nominal size the inside passage is smaller, and a careful design accounts for that.

Supporting and protecting the pipe

• Fastening: pipe is strapped at regular intervals so it does not sag, rub or move when valves close. PEX grows and shrinks slightly with water temperature, so its straps should allow that movement.
• Nail protection: where pipe passes through framing close to the face of a stud, a steel plate keeps drywall screws and picture nails from piercing it.
• Insulation: lines in an attic, crawlspace or garage should be insulated against freezing.
• Sunlight and heat: PEX stays out of direct sunlight, and its makers specify how close it may run to a gas water heater.

Testing before the walls close

Once the new piping is in place, it is pressurized and held for a period to show there are no leaks, using water or, where the manufacturer allows, air. Only then is the inspection requested, with every joint still visible. After the switch-over, the lines are flushed to clear debris, each fixture is checked for flow and leaks, and the house pressure is measured. If it runs high, adjusting or replacing the pressure-reducing valve protects the new pipe and fixtures. A leak that turns up later in an untouched part of the house is a job for leak detection and repair.

Which code the city lists

The Kennesaw Building Services Department lists the 2024 International Plumbing Code with Georgia amendments among the mandatory codes it shows as effective January 1, 2026. That code covers the materials, sizing, support and testing of water supply piping, among many other subjects. Details for a specific house come from the code and the department, so ask your plumber how the plan addresses them.

Permits and inspection scheduling in Kennesaw

Building Services takes permit applications online, offers a homeowner affidavit for owners who pull their own permits, and books inspections as well. On a repipe, the practical step is to request the rough inspection once the pressure test is holding, so the walls can be closed without delay.

Choosing materials with the details in mind

PEX is flexible and needs fewer fittings inside walls; copper is rigid, tolerates heat and light, and needs more joints. Both can make a sound system when they are sized, supported and tested properly. The overview of whole home repiping compares them in more depth, and a tankless heater planned for the near future may affect line sizing, so mention any tankless water heater plans before the layout is drawn.

Workmanship questions for a Kennesaw repipe

Is PEX the same size as the copper it replaces?

No, not inside. Put a PEX line next to copper sold under the same nominal size and the PEX has the narrower bore, which matters most on long runs and main lines. Designers make up for it by stepping the main lines up a size or by feeding fixtures from a manifold. Ask how the plan keeps flow up at the farthest bathroom.

How is a new repipe tested for leaks?

In two rounds. Before the inspection, the new piping is filled and pressurized, with water or with air if its maker allows it, and left to sit; a gauge that holds steady shows the joints are sound. After the switch-over, the system is checked again at normal pressure at every fixture and visible joint. Both rounds happen while the walls are still open.

What keeps nails and screws from hitting the new pipe?

Steel nail plates. They are fastened over the framing wherever a pipe passes close to the face of a stud or joist, so a drywall screw during patching, or a picture nail years later, hits steel instead of pipe. They cost little and are easy to overlook, so ask whether they are in the plan, particularly around bathrooms and the kitchen.

Ask how your repipe would be built

Ask Alpha Plumbing and Sewer to walk you through how a repipe for your Kennesaw home would be sized, supported and tested; the number is (404) 409-4448.