Licensed & insured — Red Seal certified technicians
Lightning-Fast Service — same-day appointments available
You approve the price before we touch anything
Zero dispatch fee — ever ·
Licensed & insured — Red Seal certified technicians
Lightning-Fast Service — same-day appointments available
You approve the price before we touch anything
Zero dispatch fee — ever ·
Licensed & insured — Red Seal certified technicians
Lightning-Fast Service — same-day appointments available
The Pipe in Your Wall Has an Expiry Date. Let’s Deal With It.
Free assessment from Nanaimo’s dedicated polybutylene pipe replacement crew. 100+ Poly-B repipes completed across the Vancouver Island. Most single-family homes done in 3–5 days — and your home left cleaner than we found it.
Free assessment · No pressure · No runaround
Our Experience
20
+
Years serving vancouver island
Google Rating
4.9
★
Hundreds of Reviews
Track Record
10,000
+
Jobs completed
Poly-B Doesn’t Warn You. It Just Fails.
No Warning Signs
Poly-B breaks down from the inside. You won’t see a crack forming. You’ll see water where it shouldn’t be.
Insurance Restrictions
A lot of insurers won’t renew a policy with active Poly-B in the walls. Some won’t write a new one at all.
The Math Is Clear
A repipe costs a fraction of what water damage remediation runs. And it takes the risk off the table for good.
If your home was built between the late 1970s and mid-1990s, there’s a good chance polybutylene pipe is still running through your walls, and it’s past its expected lifespan.
It doesn’t leak slowly. It doesn’t show up on a home inspection. One day the pipe holds. Next, you’ve got water in your walls, your floors, or your ceiling, and a remediation bill that makes a repipe look cheap.
Then comes the call to your insurance broker. Nobody wants to make that call.
From Risk to Relief in 3 Steps
Every Poly-B repipe follows the same proven path. Assessment, protected installation, verified handoff. Here’s how we get you from worried to done.
01
Free Assessment & Scope
We inspect your system, confirm Poly-B presence, and lay out exactly what a repipe looks like in your home — timeline, access points, and cost. No pressure, no runaround.
02
Protected Replacement
Your floors, walls, and air quality are protected from day one. We remove all Poly-B and install new PEX-A piping with updated shutoffs and fittings throughout.
03
Pressure Test
Every line is pressure-tested and inspected. You get photo documentation, a full walkthrough, and we coordinate drywall repairs so you’re not left sourcing trades.
Why thunderbird
We Don’t Occasionally Do Repipes. We’ve Built a System Around Them.
When your pipes are this far past their lifespan, you don’t want someone figuring it out as they go. You want a crew that’s done it over a hundred times in homes like yours, on streets like yours, with a process refined to protect your home while the work happens. Our dedicated crew works on Poly-B projects every week here on Vancouver Island.
That difference matters. We’ve developed systems, scheduling processes, and site protection methods that generalists simply don’t have. Jobs run on time. Homes are protected. Tenants aren’t left without water for days. And when we’re done, the only evidence we were there is the new pipe in your walls.
100+
100+ repipes completed across Vancouver Island
3-5 days
3-5 daysfor most single-family homes
every week
No dispatch fees, ever
A Repipe Planned to the Last Fitting
We don’t show up and figure it out. Every job is scoped in advance, every access point is planned before we cut, and your home is protected from the moment we arrive to the moment we leave.
Assessment & Project Design
We map every shutoff valve, the pressure reducing valve, and each connection point before we start. You get briefed on scope, duration, and what’ll be off-limits.
Water Shut-Off & Drain-Down
We isolate the main supply and fully depressurize and drain the system before any pipe work starts.
PEX-A Installation
We install PEX-A, the highest grade of cross-linked polyethylene available. It’s fully mapped out before a single fitting goes in, so routing is tight and fittings are minimal.
Cleanup & Air Restoration
Debris and old piping get bagged and hauled off-site. Ram Board and sheeting come down carefully. The air scrubber keeps running until the particulates clear.
Site Protection
Heavy-duty Ram Board goes down across every work zone. Poly sheeting seals off cutting and drilling areas, and an air scrubber runs the whole time. Most clients choose to stay in their home through the entire repipe, and we build the schedule around that. At the end of every workday, you’ll have one toilet and one sink up and running with water, no matter what stage the job’s at.
Drywall Access & Poly-B Removal
Access points go where they’ll disrupt the least. Every inch of Poly-B gets disconnected, and disposed of properly. Everything around it stays protected.
Pressure Testing
Water goes back on carefully. Every line and fitting gets checked under pressure, the PRV is tested and calibrated, and the whole system gets signed off.
Walkthrough & Handoff
You get a full walkthrough with photo and video documentation of the finished install. We coordinate directly with our drywall partners for the access point repairs, so you’re not stuck sourcing another trade.
Assessment & Project Design
We identify locations for all new shutoff valves, the pressure reducing valve, and key connection points.
SITE PROTECTION
Walls and surfaces are sealed with poly sheeting wherever cutting or drilling occurs, with poly sheeting and RAM board.
Water Shut-Off & Drain-Down
The main supply is isolated and the system fully depressurized and drained before any pipe work begins.
DRYWALL ACCESS & POLY-B REMOVAL
All Poly-B is disconnected cleanly, removed, and disposed of in accordance with local regulations.
PEX-A Installation
We install PEX-A the highest-grade cross-linked polyethylene available fully laid out before installation.
PRESSURE TESTING
All lines and fittings are inspected under pressure, the PRV is tested and calibrated, and the full system is checked.
Cleanup & Air Restoration
The air scrubber runs post-completion to clear all particulates before we leave.
WALKTHROUGH & HANDOFF
Once approved, we complete the work safely and professionally — and stand behind it.
Complete Poly-B Replacement Solutions
From assessment to verified handoff, every part of your repipe is handled with precision and care.
Complete Poly-B Assessment & Scope
Free in-home assessment to confirm Poly-B presence and map your full system.
Honest timeline & cost, no pressure, no runaround, just a clear plan.
Scope locked before day one so there are no surprises once work starts.
We inspect every accessible line, identify all Poly-B runs, and show you exactly what a repipe looks like in your home — including access points, duration, and what to expect. Most homeowners leave this conversation knowing precisely where they stand.
Your Home Protected From Day One
Ram Board floor protection across every work zone from entrance to access points
Poly sheeting & sealing to contain dust and debris in cut areas.
Industrial air scrubber running continuously to protect indoor air quality.
We’ve refined our site protection over 100+ repipes. Your floors, walls, furniture, and air quality are safeguarded from the moment we arrive until the moment we leave — and we clean up thoroughly every day.
PEX-A Installation by a Dedicated Crew
PEX-A cross-linked polyethylene, the most durable, flexible, and code-accepted replacement pipe available.
Updated shutoffs & fittings throughout every fixture and connection point.
Dedicated repipe crew that works on Poly-B projects every week, not occasionally.
PEX-A is the gold standard for Poly-B replacement. It’s flexible, freeze-resistant, and rated for both hot and cold supply. Combined with modern shutoffs and fittings, your new system is built to last decades, and accepted by insurers and inspectors across BC.
Why Nanaimo homeowners choose Thunderbird Plumbing
Fast. Local. Reliable Plumbing Expertise — here’s why your neighbours call Thunderbird first.
Honest, experienced technicians who are fully licensed and insured and treat your home with care. From Nanaimo and Cedar to Lantzville, we know the plumbing challenges in your area. We show up on time, communicate clearly, and stand behind our work.
Here since 2004
Serving Vancouver Island for over 20 years.
No surprise charges
You approve the price before we touch anything.
Family & founder operated
Aaron and his crew — not a franchise, not a call centre.
Are we the cheapest plumber in Nanaimo?
No and that’s intentional. We invest in experienced technicians, training, insurance, quality materials and customer support. Here’s what that buys you.
Feature
Technicians
Communication
Pricing
Dispatch Fees
Workmanship Guarantee
Local Expertise
Long-Term Value
Licensed plumbers, Red Seal-certified techs and licensed gas fitters
Clear ETAs, findings, options and pricing before we start
Upfront, fixed pricing you approve before any work begins
No dispatch or call-out fees
Work fully guaranteed — we don’t do jobs twice
Deep, local knowledge of Nanaimo & Central Island homes
Quality materials and lasting solutions — a customer for life
Typical Plumbing Service
Whoever’s available, experience unknown
Vague timelines and little follow-up
Hourly rates that climb once they’re on site
Hidden call-out and trip charges
Limited or no workmanship guarantee
Generalized, transient experience
Cheapest fix today, repeat problems tomorrow
What Our Customers Are Saying
Real Google reviews from local homeowners across Vancouver Island.
Mike Dimock
Thunderbird Plumbing Victoria
2 weeks ago
We thought Brodie was excellent, seemed to really know what he was doing, had a plan for the removal of the Poly B and replace with Pex piping in our 3 story house and was very good at explaining the job. Would definitely recommend Brodie and Thunderbird Plumbing for this type of project.
Barclay McInnes
Thunderbird Plumbing Victoria
1 month ago
Recently took ownership of a house that had poly-b pipe installed when it was built back in the early 90s, and needed to replace all of that piping for insurance purposes. Reached out to Thunderbird and they were able to schedule a site meeting a couple of days later to quote on the project. After accepting the quote, their team led by Brodie moved quickly and replaced all piping in a few days. Their team was professional, cleaned up afterward, and ensured that after the work each day we had functioning water in the house. They explained in detail each step of the process and what work was needed so there were no misunderstandings. An excellent job done overall.
Linda Molyneaux
Thunderbird Plumbing Victoria
3 weeks ago
So we needed to do a job no one likes. It was all our water lines! Thunderbird came in and did the quote and we said YES to the job! They sent out Nolan, Presley and Brodie. They were super fantastic! Very clean and friendly even to our 9 year old cat who watched the boys each day in and out. I would highly recommend Thunderbird to all as if needed in future, this is my to go to plumbing place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what you’re probably wondering.
Most single-family repipes take 3–5 days. We lay floor protection, seal work areas, and run an air scrubber throughout — the goal is to hand your home back in the same condition we found it, minus the Poly-B.
A partial repair can handle an immediate failure, but it doesn’t touch the underlying risk. The rest of your pipe is the same age, in the same condition. We’ll give you an honest read on your specific situation, timing and options included, at no charge.
In most cases, replacing Poly-B with PEX-A resolves the insurer’s concern and can affect your premiums. Talk to your broker; we’ll give you documentation of the completed work to back up that conversation.
PEX-A, the highest grade of cross-linked polyethylene available. It’s flexible, durable, rated for hot and cold supply lines, and accepted by insurers and building codes across BC.
We connect you directly with vetted drywall partners, so the whole repair gets managed without you having to source another trade.
Yes. We’ve coordinated with strata councils, property managers, and engineers, and we schedule around minimizing disruption for occupied units.
Prefer we call you?
Tell us what’s going on and our Nanaimo team will reach out to confirm your appointment, often same-day.
Better Communication
You’ll always know when we’re arriving, what we found, what your options are, and what the work will cost before we begin.
Same-Day Service Available
A lot of plumbing problems can’t wait. We offer prompt response times and same-day service whenever we can.
Upfront Pricing
Before work begins, you get clear options and pricing, so you can make an informed call.
No Dispatch Fees
Get a plumbing professional to assess your situation with no hidden charges or call-out fees.
Prefer calling instead?
CALL US NOW 778-486-3770
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