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Here’s what most people don’t realize until it’s too late: Kitec wasn’t recalled because it might fail. It was recalled because it does fail. The brass fittings corrode from the inside out, the pipes crack, and suddenly you’re dealing with water damage that costs more than the replacement ever would have.
Every Kitec system installed in Carmichael is now well beyond the 10-year lifespan experts predicted. That means if your home was built or repiped between 1995 and 2007, you’re not just at risk—you’re overdue.
Insurance companies know this. Some won’t cover homes with Kitec anymore. Others will, but they’re raising premiums or putting pressure on you to replace it. Either way, you’re stuck paying for the problem.
A full Kitec replacement removes that risk entirely. You get reliable plumbing, peace of mind, and a home that’s insurable and sellable without the asterisk.
We’ve been handling residential and commercial plumbing across the Greater Sacramento region since day one. We’ve seen what happens when Kitec fails, and we’ve helped dozens of Carmichael homeowners get ahead of it before the damage starts.
We’re not the cheapest option, and we won’t pretend to be. What we are is honest about what your home needs, upfront about pricing, and reliable when it comes to showing up and doing the work right. Our customers in Carmichael consistently mention two things: we arrive on time, and the final bill often comes in lower than the estimate.
That’s not a sales pitch. It’s just how we operate. You’ll get a clear assessment of your Kitec system, a transparent quote for replacement, and a team that treats your home like it matters—because it does.
First, we come out and assess your current system. We’ll identify where the Kitec piping runs, what condition it’s in, and what’s involved in replacing it. You’ll get a full breakdown of the work and the cost before anything starts.
Once you’re ready to move forward, we schedule the replacement at a time that works for you. We remove the old Kitec piping and fittings, then install new, code-compliant plumbing throughout your home. We do everything we can to minimize wall and floor damage, and we clean up after ourselves.
The whole process typically takes a few days depending on the size of your home. You’ll have working plumbing throughout most of the job, and when we’re done, you’ll have a system that’s built to last—not one that’s waiting to fail.
We also handle any necessary permits and inspections, so you’re not left figuring that out on your own. And if your insurance company needs documentation for the replacement, we’ll provide that too.
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Kitec was installed in thousands of homes across Carmichael during the late 90s and early 2000s. It was marketed as a cost-effective, flexible alternative to copper. The problem is the fittings. They contain high levels of zinc, which breaks down when exposed to water and oxygen. That leads to blockages, reduced water pressure, and eventually, pipe bursts.
Most Carmichael homes were built in the 50s through 80s, but if your home was remodeled or had plumbing work done between 1995 and 2007, there’s a chance Kitec is in your walls. You might see orange or yellow flexible piping, or brass fittings stamped with “Kitec” or “KTC.”
The class action settlement that compensated homeowners for replacement costs ended in January 2020. That means if you’re replacing Kitec now, you’re covering it yourself—or hoping your insurance helps. Either way, the longer you wait, the more likely you are to deal with an emergency repair on top of the replacement cost.
Carmichael’s housing market is competitive, and homes with Kitec are harder to sell. Buyers either walk away or demand a price reduction to cover the replacement. If you’re planning to sell in the next few years, replacing Kitec now protects your home’s value and makes the transaction smoother.
For most homes, you’re looking at somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on the size of your house and how much piping needs to be replaced. A smaller two-bedroom, one-bath home might come in around $4,500. Larger homes with multiple bathrooms can push closer to $15,000.
The cost covers removing all the old Kitec piping and fittings, installing new code-compliant plumbing, patching any drywall or flooring we need to access, and handling permits and inspections. We give you a detailed estimate upfront so there aren’t any surprises.
Some insurance companies will cover part of the replacement if you can prove the Kitec is actively failing or causing damage. Others won’t cover it at all but will drop your premiums once it’s replaced. It’s worth checking with your insurer before you start.
The easiest way is to look at your exposed pipes—usually in the basement, crawl space, utility room, or under sinks. Kitec pipes are typically orange or yellow, though sometimes they’re blue or red. The fittings are brass and often stamped with “Kitec,” “KTC,” or the manufacturer’s name.
If your home was built or had plumbing work done between 1995 and 2007, there’s a higher chance Kitec was used. It was popular during that window because it was cheaper and easier to install than copper.
If you’re not sure, we can come out and do a quick inspection. We’ll check the visible plumbing and let you know if Kitec is present and what condition it’s in. That assessment is straightforward and gives you a clear answer so you can decide what to do next.
You can patch a leak or replace a fitting temporarily, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem. Kitec fails because the material itself breaks down over time. Fixing one section doesn’t stop the rest of the system from deteriorating.
If you repair a leak today, you’ll likely have another one in six months or a year. And each time it fails, you’re risking water damage to your floors, walls, and belongings. The cost of multiple repairs and the damage they cause usually ends up being more than a full replacement would have been.
Insurance companies know this too. Many won’t cover homes with Kitec unless it’s fully replaced, and some will only pay for emergency repairs—not the water damage that comes with it. Replacing the system removes the risk and gives you plumbing that actually works long-term.
It depends on your policy and your insurance company. Some insurers will cover the cost of repairing a leak if it happens suddenly and causes damage. But most won’t cover the cost of replacing the Kitec system itself unless it’s actively failing.
Other companies have started refusing coverage entirely for homes with Kitec, or they’ll insure the home but charge higher premiums until the system is replaced. A few will require you to replace it within a certain timeframe to keep your coverage.
The best move is to contact your insurance company and ask directly what their policy is on Kitec plumbing. If they require replacement, get it in writing. If they’ll cover part of the work, find out what documentation they need. We can provide inspection reports and invoices that meet most insurers’ requirements.
Most replacements take between three and five days depending on the size of your home and how much piping needs to be swapped out. Smaller homes with straightforward layouts can sometimes be done faster. Larger homes or properties with complex plumbing systems might take a bit longer.
You’ll still have access to water during most of the job. We work in sections so you’re not left without plumbing for days at a time. There will be short periods where we need to shut off the water to make connections, but we’ll let you know ahead of time so you can plan around it.
Once the new piping is in, we handle the inspections and make sure everything is up to code. We also patch any drywall or flooring we had to open up, though you might want to repaint or do finish work yourself depending on how much access was needed.
If a pipe bursts or a fitting fails, you’re dealing with an emergency. Water damage spreads fast, and depending on where the failure happens, it can affect floors, walls, ceilings, insulation, and even electrical systems. Mold becomes a risk within 24 to 48 hours if the area isn’t dried out properly.
The first step is to shut off your main water supply to stop the flow. Then call us. We offer 24/7 emergency service in Carmichael, so we can get out there quickly to assess the damage and make temporary repairs to stop the leak.
From there, you’ll likely need to file an insurance claim for the water damage and start the process of replacing the rest of the Kitec system. Waiting until a failure happens always costs more than replacing it proactively—not just in repair bills, but in the disruption to your life and the damage to your home.
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