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You stop wondering if today’s the day your pipes burst. You stop worrying about whether your insurance will actually cover the damage when it happens—or if they’ll drop you first.
Kitec plumbing wasn’t just recalled in 2005 because of a paperwork issue. It was recalled because the brass fittings corrode from the inside out, the pipes can’t handle normal water heater temperatures, and the failure rate is high enough that the question isn’t if your system will fail—it’s when.
Every Kitec system installed is now well past its 10-year lifespan. The fittings aren’t made anymore, so repairs are basically impossible. And if you’re trying to sell your home, buyers see Kitec on the inspection report and either walk away or demand a massive price reduction.
When you replace your Kitec system with modern PEX piping, you get your insurance coverage back without the inflated premiums. You protect your home’s value. You sleep better knowing you’re not going to wake up to water cascading through your walls.
Murray Plumbing has been serving Carnelian Bay and the Lake Tahoe region for over 40 years. We’re not the biggest plumbing company in the area, and that’s exactly why homeowners here choose us.
We know which neighborhoods were built during the Kitec era. We understand how alpine conditions affect plumbing systems. And we’ve helped dozens of local families upgrade their plumbing before disaster strikes—not after.
Our team is fully licensed (CA Lic #916322) and insured. We show up when we say we will, we give you a transparent estimate, and we often finish the job for less than we quoted. That’s why we have a 4.7-star rating from 93 Google reviews.
First, we come out and assess your entire plumbing system—no charge for the evaluation. We identify every section of Kitec pipe and every brass fitting that needs to go. Then we give you a written estimate that covers the full scope of work.
Once you’re ready to move forward, we map out the repipe to minimize disruption to your daily routine. In most cases, we can restore basic water service each evening so you’re not without water overnight. We prioritize critical areas based on what matters most to your family.
We replace the old Kitec pipes, fittings, and valves with premium PEX materials designed to last decades. Every connection is tested. Every wall is closed up properly. And when we’re done, you get a written workmanship warranty and documentation you can share with your insurance company or future buyers.
The whole process typically takes a few days depending on your home’s size and layout. We protect your floors and furniture throughout the job, and we clean up completely before we leave.
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You get a complete removal of every Kitec pipe and brass fitting in your home. We don’t patch or leave sections behind—that just delays the inevitable and gives you a false sense of security.
We install new PEX piping that’s rated for high temperatures, resistant to corrosion, and backed by decades of proven performance. PEX is flexible, which means fewer connections and fewer potential leak points than rigid pipe systems.
In Carnelian Bay, where winter temperatures can stress plumbing systems, PEX also handles freeze-thaw cycles better than the old Kitec ever did. It’s the same material used in new construction across the Lake Tahoe region because it works.
You also get documentation for your insurance company showing the work was completed by a licensed contractor. Many insurance providers in California will restore full coverage and drop those inflated premiums once they see proof your Kitec is gone. Some will even require this documentation before they’ll renew your policy.
Most residential Kitec repiping projects in Carnelian Bay run between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on your home’s size, how much Kitec was originally installed, and how accessible your plumbing is.
A single-story home with a crawl space is usually on the lower end. A two-story home with plumbing running through finished walls costs more because there’s more labor involved in accessing the pipes and repairing the drywall afterward.
We give you a written estimate before we start any work, and we often finish for less than we originally quoted. No diagnostic fees, no surprises. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying for upfront.
Most insurance companies won’t pay to replace your Kitec system before it fails—they see it as preventive maintenance, which isn’t typically covered. But here’s the thing: if you don’t replace it and it does fail, they may not cover the water damage either.
Some insurance providers are now refusing to renew policies for homes with Kitec still installed. Others are raising premiums or adding massive deductibles to offset the risk. Once you replace your Kitec, those penalties usually go away.
The cost of repiping is almost always less than the cost of repairing water damage after a catastrophic pipe burst. And it’s definitely less than what you’ll lose if your insurance drops you or a buyer walks away because of a bad inspection report.
If your home was built or remodeled between 1995 and 2007, there’s a good chance you have Kitec. Look for orange or blue flexible pipes, usually marked with “Kitec” or “KTC” on the pipe itself.
The brass fittings are another giveaway—they’re often stamped with the Kitec logo. You’ll typically find these pipes near your water heater, under sinks, or in your crawl space or basement.
If you’re not sure, we can come out and do a full assessment at no charge. We’ll identify what you have, explain what needs to be replaced, and give you a clear estimate. No pressure, no sales pitch—just straight information so you can make the right call.
Most Kitec repipe projects take between two and five days depending on the size of your home and how much plumbing needs to be replaced. Single-story homes with accessible plumbing are usually faster. Multi-story homes with plumbing in finished walls take longer.
We work efficiently, but we don’t cut corners. Every connection gets tested. Every wall gets closed up properly. And in most cases, we restore basic water service each evening so you’re not living without running water overnight.
We’ll give you a realistic timeline during the estimate so you can plan accordingly. And if anything changes during the job, we’ll let you know right away—no surprises.
You can try, but it’s going to cost you. When Kitec shows up on a home inspection report, buyers either walk away or demand a price reduction that’s usually more than the cost of replacing the system yourself.
Even if the pipes look fine during the inspection, buyers know Kitec is a liability. They know it’s been recalled. They know insurance companies don’t want to cover it. And they know that if they buy your home, they’re inheriting a problem that could cost them thousands in water damage down the road.
If you replace the Kitec before you list your home, you remove that objection completely. You can market your home as move-in ready with updated plumbing, and you’ll likely get a better price and a faster sale. It’s one of the few home improvements that actually pays for itself.
You’re looking at thousands of dollars in water damage, and that’s if you catch it quickly. Water doesn’t just stay in one spot—it runs through walls, soaks into floors, ruins drywall, and damages everything in its path.
The immediate priority is shutting off your water and stopping the flow. Then you’re dealing with water extraction, drying out your home, repairing structural damage, and replacing anything that got ruined. Most homeowners are looking at $10,000 to $50,000 in total damage depending on how bad the burst is and how long the water runs.
And that’s assuming your insurance covers it. If they’ve already flagged your Kitec as a known issue and you didn’t address it, they may deny your claim entirely. The best move is to replace your Kitec system now, before it fails. It’s cheaper, less stressful, and you’re in control of the timeline instead of dealing with an emergency.
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