Hear from Our Customers
If your Rescue home was built between 1995 and 2007, there’s a real chance you have Kitec plumbing. And if you do, it’s not a question of if it fails—it’s when.
Kitec pipes don’t leak slowly. They collapse completely, flooding rooms in minutes and causing thousands in water damage. The brass fittings corrode from the inside out through dezincification, weakening until they can’t hold pressure anymore.
Replacing kitec plumbing now means you avoid emergency water extraction, drywall replacement, mold remediation, and insurance headaches. You get reliable copper or PEX piping that lasts 50-plus years, better water pressure, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home isn’t one pressure spike away from disaster. Most homeowners in El Dorado County who’ve dealt with Kitec failures say the same thing: they wish they’d replaced it sooner.
We’ve served Rescue, CA and El Dorado County since 2009, with over two decades of hands-on plumbing experience. We’re licensed (CA License #916322), insured, and available 24/7 when emergencies happen.
We don’t oversell or surprise you with hidden fees. You get an upfront estimate before we start, and we stick to it. Our team knows how Kitec fails, how to remove it with minimal wall damage, and how to install replacement systems that actually last.
Rescue homeowners deal with unique challenges—older construction, varying water pressure, and limited access to fast emergency service. We show up on time, do the work right, and make sure you understand what’s happening at every step.
First, we schedule an inspection to confirm you have Kitec and assess how much of your system needs replacing. Most homes need full replacement—hot and cold lines, fittings, and connections. We’ll walk you through what we find and give you a clear, written estimate before any work starts.
Once you approve, we map out the least invasive path to access your pipes. That usually means cutting small access points in walls or ceilings, removing the old Kitec system, and installing new copper or PEX piping. We test everything for leaks and pressure before closing up.
The whole process typically takes one to three days depending on your home’s size and layout. We clean up after ourselves, patch access points, and make sure your water is back on and working properly. You’ll get a warranty on materials and labor, plus documentation for insurance and future home sales.
Ready to get started?
A complete kitec plumbing replacement in Rescue, CA covers removal of all Kitec pipes and fittings—both hot and cold water lines—and installation of durable copper or PEX systems. We handle everything from shutting off your water to final pressure testing and cleanup.
In El Dorado County, most homes with Kitec have it running through walls, attics, and crawl spaces. We locate every section, remove it carefully to minimize drywall damage, and install code-compliant replacements that meet California plumbing standards. You’ll also get updated shut-off valves and connections that make future maintenance easier.
The cost for a full replacement in a typical Rescue home ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on square footage and accessibility. That’s a fraction of what water damage restoration costs when Kitec fails—most flooding incidents run $15,000 or more once you factor in drywall, flooring, mold treatment, and lost belongings. Replacing it now protects your home’s value and keeps your insurance coverage intact without higher deductibles.
Check your water heater connections, under sinks, and in your attic or crawl space. Kitec pipes are usually orange (hot water) or blue (cold water), though some are gray. The fittings are brass-colored and often stamped with “Kitec” or “KTC.”
If your home was built or renovated between 1995 and 2007 in Rescue or anywhere in El Dorado County, it’s worth having us inspect your system. Kitec was widely used during that period because it was cheap and easy to install. Many builders in the Sacramento region used it extensively before the defects became widely known.
Even if you don’t see obvious Kitec pipes, they might be hidden behind walls or in less accessible areas. A professional inspection takes about 30 minutes and gives you a definitive answer. If you’re buying a home in Rescue from that era, make Kitec inspection part of your due diligence—it can save you from inheriting an expensive problem.
Eventually, they’ll fail. Kitec has a projected 100% failure rate because the defects are built into the materials themselves. The brass fittings corrode internally, and the pipes become brittle and prone to bursting under normal water pressure.
When Kitec fails, it doesn’t drip—it ruptures completely. You’ll come home to flooded rooms, damaged floors, soaked drywall, and potentially ruined furniture and belongings. Water damage restoration typically costs $15,000 or more, and that doesn’t include temporary housing if your home becomes unlivable during repairs.
Your homeowner’s insurance might cover the damage, but many insurers in California now apply higher deductibles to Kitec-related claims or exclude coverage entirely if they know you have it and haven’t replaced it. Some won’t insure homes with Kitec at all. Waiting also makes your home harder to sell—buyers either walk away or demand steep price reductions to cover replacement costs.
Most residential Kitec replacements take one to three days depending on your home’s size, layout, and how accessible the pipes are. A smaller single-story home might be done in a day. Larger two-story homes with complex plumbing systems can take closer to three days.
The timeline also depends on whether we need to open walls or ceilings to access hidden pipes. We work efficiently to minimize disruption, but we won’t rush and risk doing subpar work. You’ll have water shut off during active work hours, but we can usually restore service at the end of each day if the job spans multiple days.
We’ll give you a realistic timeline during the estimate so you can plan accordingly. If you need to arrange temporary accommodations or adjust your schedule, we’ll work with you to find the least disruptive approach. Emergency replacements after a burst pipe obviously move faster—we prioritize getting your water back on and preventing further damage.
For a typical Rescue home around 1,700 square feet, full Kitec replacement usually runs between $5,000 and $15,000. The exact cost depends on how much Kitec you have, where it’s located, and what replacement material you choose (copper costs more than PEX but lasts longer).
Homes with Kitec in hard-to-reach areas—like inside concrete slabs or behind tile—cost more because accessing those pipes requires more labor. If you only have Kitec on your hot water lines, partial replacement costs less than replacing both hot and cold systems. We’ll give you an itemized estimate that breaks down materials, labor, and any necessary repairs to walls or ceilings.
That price might sound steep, but compare it to water damage costs. One burst Kitec pipe can cause $15,000 to $30,000 in damage once you factor in water extraction, structural drying, drywall replacement, flooring, and mold remediation. Replacing Kitec proactively is cheaper than dealing with the aftermath of a failure—and it protects your home’s resale value.
No. The pipes themselves are defective, not just the fittings. While the brass fittings fail through dezincification, the orange and blue Kitec pipes also degrade over time and become brittle. Replacing only the fittings leaves you with failing pipes that will eventually burst.
Some homeowners try partial fixes to save money, but it’s a temporary band-aid that doesn’t address the underlying problem. You’ll end up paying for the partial work and then still needing a full replacement later when the pipes fail. It’s more cost-effective to do it right the first time.
A complete kitec plumbing replacement in Rescue, CA means removing all Kitec components—pipes, fittings, and connections—and installing a proven system like copper or PEX that won’t corrode or fail prematurely. That’s the only way to truly eliminate the risk and protect your home long-term.
Probably not. Most homeowner’s insurance policies don’t cover preventive maintenance or replacement of defective building materials—they only cover sudden, accidental damage. That means they might pay for water damage after a Kitec pipe bursts, but they won’t pay to replace the Kitec system before it fails.
There was a class-action settlement years ago that provided some compensation for Kitec replacement, but the deadline to file claims has passed. You’re responsible for replacement costs now. The good news is that replacing Kitec can actually help your insurance situation—some insurers won’t cover homes with known Kitec, and others charge higher premiums or deductibles.
Once you replace your Kitec plumbing, document it with photos, receipts, and permits. That documentation proves to future insurers and home buyers that the problem has been fixed. It protects your insurability and makes your Rescue home more attractive when you eventually sell.
Local Resources
Other Services we provide in Rescue
