What Is Repiping, and Why Might My Home Need It?
To put it simply, repiping refers to replacing the old or damaged pipes throughout your home with new ones.
This is an essential procedure when your current plumbing system has become too worn or faulty to maintain, leading to frequent issues such as leaks, low water pressure, or discoloured water.
Homes built before the 1970s, for example, may still have dangerous lead pipes or galvanized steel pipes, which are prone to rust, corrosion, and failure over time. In such cases, repiping is integral in ensuring the safety and longevity of your home's fresh water lines.
Some common signs you might need a repipe include:
- Rusty or discoloured water
- Outdated or faulty plumbing materials (e.g., galvanized plumbing, polybutylene pipes, CPVC)
- Low water pressure throughout the home
- Pinhole leaks in copper pipes
- Water damage from repeated leaks or leaks under the slab
How Much Does Repiping a House Cost?
Repiping costs can vary widely based on several factors, including the size of your home, the type of materials used, and the complexity of the installation.
On average, here at Repipe Specialists, most of our repipes fall somewhere between $4,500 for a two-bedroom, one-bath house and up to $15,000 for a much larger, more complex job.
If you are researching repipe pricing for large multi-family properties (HOAs, condos, apartments, etc.), visit our Multi-Family Division site. Repipe Specialists' Multi-Family Division provides quotations for complex multi-unit projects, including project management support across tenant units and project financing.
It's important to note that repiping isn't a one-size-fits-all job. Different homes require tailored approaches based on the specific plumbing issues at hand. Contact us to receive a free, fixed-price repipe quote from one of our local repipe consultants.
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With over 75,000 repipes completed, we've perfected our One-Stop Repipe™ for your home.
What Factors Influence the Cost of Repiping a Home?
Several factors can affect the overall cost of repiping your home. We have put together a breakdown of five key elements to consider when calculating the expense:
- Size of Your Home: Larger homes require more plumbing materials and labour, increasing the overall cost. The more fixtures and outlets (faucets, showers, toilets, etc.) you have, the more plumbing is needed.
- Pipe Accessibility: If your pipes are easily accessible—such as in an attic, open sub-flooring, basement, or crawlspace—the overall labour cost will generally be lower.
- Pipe Material: Different materials have varying costs, and the choice between copper and PEX tubing can influence the price of your repipe. The quality of the plumbing materials can also vary widely, affecting the overall cost of a full home repipe. We'll delve into this in more detail in the next section.
- Pipe Connectors and Fittings: Several types and grades of fittings and connectors are used in a repipe project, including shut-off valves and tube-connecting systems. These components will influence the overall house repipe cost.
- Add-on Services: If your repiping job includes additional services, such as drywall repair, water heater replacement, pressure regulator replacement, or main line repiping, these will increase the overall cost.
For more information, you can read our detailed breakdown on the key factors that influence residential repipe pricing.
How Do Pipe Materials Affect Repiping Costs?
The materials you choose for your repipe play a significant role in the total cost of the project. The two most common materials used for repiping are copper and PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). While both options are durable, they have different price points.
- Copper Piping: Copper pipes are a traditional choice for repiping, and while they are long-lasting, they are also more expensive than other materials. Copper is known for its durability and resistance to corrosion, but it does have a higher upfront cost compared to PEX tubing. We utilize American-made Type L copper for all our copper home repipes.
- PEX Tubing: PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its flexibility, lower cost, and ease of installation. PEX is more affordable than copper and is less likely to burst in freezing temperatures. However, some of our customers prefer copper for its long-standing reputation. At Repipe Specialists, we always recommend using Uponor PEX-A tubing for its durability, flexibility, and suitability for various climates.
Ultimately, the choice of repiping materials is always a personal preference based on your home's needs, your budget, and long-term plans.
How Long Does a Repiping Project Take?
One of the great advantages of repiping is its speed. Depending on the size of the home and the complexity of the job, our full-home repipe projects typically take between 1 and 2 days to complete.
Smaller homes may be finished in a single day, while larger or more complicated repipes may take slightly longer. At Repipe Specialists, we've honed our One-Stop Repipe™ Process to ensure the job is done efficiently.
Our expert teams work quickly and professionally to minimise disruption to your daily life, and we always make sure to restore water service at the end of each day if the job takes longer than expected.
For more information, you can read our thorough breakdown of how long a repiping project takes.
Receive a Free Quote for Your Home Repipe
Here at Repipe Specialists, we've fully replaced the plumbing in over 75,000 homes since 1991 using both copper piping and PEX tubing. We continually get positive customer feedback from customers about their overall home repipe experiences. We often exceed their expectations on:
- Speed: Our repipe crews typically complete a repipe in a day, returning on another day for wall patching.
- Convenience: Through our One-Stop Repipe™ Process, we handle everything from permits, to wall patching, to inspections.
- Cleanliness: Our crews are trained to protect your home while working (we cover all surfaces with protective sheeting), and to clean up fully at the end of each day.
- Peace of Mind: Repipe Specialists is a fully licensed plumber in every state we operate in, and we back all of our repipes with a lifetime warranty.
- Financing programs: To help take the sting out of unplanned repipe expenses, we offer several financing programs.
- Price: As a specialist that performs hundreds of repipes a week, we can deliver high quality repipes at a lower cost vs generalist plumbers. We have an article that covers repipe cost factors in detail.
Schedule a free in-home consult, and one of our local repipe consultants will explain all your repipe options and provide you with a written, fixed-price quote.