Whole-House Repiping

Signs a House Needs Repiping

Repiping makes sense when patching stops working. If leaks keep appearing in different places, water pressure is low throughout the house, or the water runs rusty, the supply pipe itself is usually the problem.

• Frequent leaks in different places
• Low water pressure throughout the house
• Rusty or discolored water
• Galvanized or polybutylene supply pipes

PEX or Copper for a Repipe?

• PEX is flexible, so it snakes through walls with fewer openings and fewer fittings. It resists freeze damage and is usually faster to install. It shouldn't be exposed to sunlight.
• Copper is rigid metal with a long service record and good heat tolerance. It needs more fittings and soldered joints, so installation takes longer.
• Both are approved by plumbing codes in most areas. The right choice depends on your home's layout, local code and your budget.

How a Whole-House Repipe Is Done

A repipe runs new supply lines to every fixture, usually through small openings in walls and ceilings. Most homes get water back at the end of each work day, and the openings are patched once the new pipe passes inspection.

1. Inspect the existing piping and plan the new routes.
2. Get a permit where required.
3. Run new supply lines and connect each fixture.
4. Pressure test, pass inspection and patch the access openings.

What Affects the Cost of Repiping

House size, the number of fixtures and the choice between PEX and copper drive most of the cost of repiping.

• House size and number of bathrooms and fixtures.
• PEX or copper.
• How many walls and ceilings need access openings.
• Drywall patching and painting.
• Permit and inspection fees.

When Repiping Becomes Urgent

• Leaks are appearing faster than they can be patched.
• Polybutylene pipe has failed and you're worried about the rest of it.

Galvanized Pipe in the Oldest Housing Markets

San Francisco, Boston, Detroit and Baltimore all have a median home built in the 1940s. Homes that old often still have galvanized steel supply pipe, which narrows with rust until pressure drops and leaks start. When leaks keep turning up in different spots, repiping costs less over time than repeated repairs.

Local plumbing details: San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Baltimore

Aging Pipe by City

What our city pages say about aging pipe:

• Memphis, TN: With a median home built in 1970, many houses have aging galvanized supply lines and cast iron drains.
• Hartford, CT: Galvanized supply lines and cast iron stacks serve several units at once.
• Braintree, MA: Capes and colonials from the 1940s and 1950s can have galvanized lines and cast iron drains.
• Honolulu, HI: Drain stacks and supply risers from the 1960s and 1970s corrode and leak, often affecting several units.
• Melbourne, FL: Drains under homes from the 1960s and 1970s corrode and crack.
• Providence, RI: With a median home built in 1938, corroded drain stacks and narrowed supply lines cause leaks, clogs and weak pressure.
• Novato, CA: Clay laterals from the 1950s and 1960s crack and take in roots.
• Silver Spring, MD: Houses from the 1920s through the 1950s can have galvanized lines and cast iron drains.

Before the Plumber Arrives

• Identify your current pipe material if you can.
• List past leak repairs and where they were.

Repiping Questions