Replacing Plumbing: Options and Cost

No matter how amazing your current plumbing may be, over time even the best of systems needs replacing. Copper pipes become frail, galvanized steel pipes may corrode, and lead pipes are a danger to your health. Replacing plumbing can be a costly and time-consuming venture. You’ll need to closely inspect your plumbing or rely on a licensed professional to advise you whether it’s time or not. Depending on the complexity, replumbing a 1,500 sq. ft. home can cost a pretty penny. However, there’s good news for those on a shoestring budget. This article will highlight different options for every kind of budget and give you a basic idea of how much things may cost. For more information keep on reading!

Cost Factors

The cost to replace plumbing in any home varies based on different cost factors. Your home’s layout, number of stories, ease of access, and the amount of demolition required can all cause project prices to fluctuate. So, let’s explore some of these cost factors:

• House Size – The bigger the house, the more plumbing materials are needed. Not to mention, more time and effort are going to be required to install it all.
• Number of Stories – The cost to re-pipe a multi-story home is significantly larger than the cost to re-pipe a single level bungalow. The reason for this increase is the need for demolition in order to reach and replace vertical piping.
• Number of Fixtures – Fixtures include sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, faucets, dishwashers etc. The more fixtures you have in your home, the more it will cost to replumb.
• Accessibility – The task of replacing plumbing systems is a large one. But replacing systems that are only accessible through a basement, closets, or small crawl spaces makes the job twice as hard. The limited space requires additional time, effort and money to remove the old plumbing and install the new.
• Type of Pipe – Different piping materials come at different costs. Furthermore, cost also increases as the diameter of the pipe increases.

Cost to Replumb a House

The cost to replumb an entire house varies widely and is dependent on multiple factors as listed above. The two biggest factors being the size of the house and the materials used. Replacing small sections of pipe at a time will cost between $300 and $2,000–with the average cost being $1,150. Repiping an entire home or installing new plumbing from scratch will run anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000 depending on complexity and materials. Prices for other installation projects such as toilets, sinks or bathtubs are priced by fixture and complexity. Estimates for projects such as these can be between $600 to $1,600.

Cost to remove Existing Pipes

Though it seems easy, removing the existing plumbing is just as complicated as installing the new plumbing. It’s even just as costly too–to remove existing plumbing pipes, you’re looking at around $1000 to $4,000. Normally this cost is included in the price of repiping your home, as is the cost of drywall repairs if your plumber needed to cut into it to gain access to the plumbing system. Since it’s a “remove as you go” type of repair, there is no way for a homeowner to DIY anything to save themselves some money.

Pricing for New Plumbing Materials

If you want to repipe your existing home or put plumbing into a custom build, there are three types of plumbing pipes we recommend. These types of piping are copper, PEX, and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride)–all of which are building-code approved for homes. The list below outlines each pipe material and its cost:

• PEX
  • $0.40 to $0.50 per linear foot depending on the size of the house and the extent of the project.
  • Re-piping a 2,000 square foot home with PEX can cost roughly between $2,000 and $4,000. 
• Copper Piping
  • $13 to $15 per linear foot depending on the size of the house and the extent of the project.
  • Re-piping a 2,000 square foot home with copper can cost roughly between $8,000 and $16,000.
• CPVC
  • $0.40 to $1.56 per linear foot depending on the size of the house and the extent of the project.
  • Re-piping a 2,000 square foot home with CPVC can cost roughly between $3,000 and $10,000. 

Why you Need a Licensed Professional

Always hire a professional to do complex plumbing jobs. DIY work isn’t the way to go and your homeowners’ insurance will thank you for choosing Super Terry! Don’t risk thousands of dollars in damage, instead call Super Terry today! Your most trusted Pittsburgh Plumber.