Benefits of Repiping Your Home

Repiping your home is more necessary than some homeowners realize. The benefits are numerous and include the removal/replacement of old piping materials, which contain potentially dangerous materials. Finding the right plumber for your repiping needs is easier to do today than ever before thanks to online resources such as Home Advisor and multiple more.

Understanding all benefits of repiping prior to making purchase & service commitments is integral to knowing what type of piping is best suited for your home today. Also vital is a knowledge of typical repiping costs and types of materials available. Read ahead for a helpful and informative guide on the benefits of repiping your home in 2021.

Types of Piping - Brief History

Before repiping your home it is important to understand why certain types of piping are used today. The type of piping used affects pricing and is sold for viable reasons. Read below for a brief history on piping materials through modern times and the types of piping used most commonly today.

Lead

Lead was an initial metal extracted from the ground by ancient civilizations around the world. In 2014 over eleven million tons of lead was still used worldwide for various purposes, but the common metal was not without a history of serious health-related risks. Lead paint was banned from use in residential/commercial buildings by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1978. The installation of lead pipes in new U.S. plumbing structures was outlawed in 1986, even though replacing old plumbing systems containing the water-polluting metal was inexplicably not required. Lead pipes cause potentially deadly lead-poisoning in domestic/commercial water supplies. If your home contains lead pipes it is vital to have them replaced fast.

Polybutylene

Polybutylene pipes were installed into homes constructed between the 1970’s and 1990’s. This material/type of piping was deemed susceptible to damage from chemically treated and/or chlorinated water, however. While safer than lead piping at the onset, polybutylene piping tends to become quickly frangible and break when exposed to chemicals, allowing those chemicals to enter drinking water.

Galvanized

Galvanized piping is safe when intact and has price ranges comparable to other recommended piping types. Galvanized pipes use a coating to protect the steel in pipes from damage caused by long-term use. Galvanized pipes are still susceptible to clog-creating corrosion, however, which leads to decreased water pressure & possible water toxicity. Repiping visible-only areas of galvanized piping is possible if only sections are damaged. It is also possible to reline galvanized pipes instead of replacing them.

Copper

Copper as an element is healthy for the human body in small, limited doses. Copper piping contains natural antibacterial properties, which keep your water supply cleaner. Copper piping also lasts longer than many other piping materials. If copper pipes erode, however, the amount of copper your/your family ingest could become unhealthy. This is only common in areas with low pH levels in the water it supplies or if exposed to significant acidity, electrolysis due to faulty grounding or if connected to galvanized/dissimilar metals. Hard water does not erode copper piping. Copper pipes are considered a safe/effective overall choice for repiping your home.

PVC & PEX

PVC/PEX piping is the most flexible/affordable type of piping on the market. Installing PVC/PEX piping is simple/cost-effective because its flexibility allows for the removal of fewer sections of wall during installation. Both copper and PVC/PEX piping are popular material choices for consumers repiping homes in 2021.

Main Benefits

Multiple benefits/incentives exist for repiping your home today. The first benefit is the removal of toxins from your water supply, whether in beginning or advanced contamination stages. The resulting benefit is improved health and a better quality of life. Repiping your home also improves the quality of your water pressure. Leaks (no matter the size) diminish water pressure in your plumbing system household-wide. Increased water pressure saves money by reducing the time it takes to wash dishes by hand and take showers.

Your appliances benefit from repiping because they no longer have to work as hard to push water through their systems. Appliances also get corroded/depleted by toxins in your water supply. Clean, new pipes eliminate this risk & increase appliance’s lifespans. Finally, repiping your home with modern materials increases your home’s value and therefore its equity, making the repiping process an investment into your future. 

Typical Costs of Repiping

Typical costs of repiping your home depends on the size of your home, material/type of piping purchased and market rates. Costs are also impacted by whether the repiping company/plumber is performing a partial or whole-house service. Repiping smaller sections of plumbing systems costs a national average of approximately $1,100, although prices range from approximately $350 and $1,800+. Repiping an entire home typically costs between $1,500 and $15,000+ depending on factors as mentioned herein.

Piping costs are also assessed based on fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs and toilets. Typical costs for repiping various fixtures range between $600-$1,600 on average. Material used in repiping processes greatly affects costs of service. For example, PVC/PEX piping costs an average of thirty percent less than copper piping (approximately $4.50/square foot), which averages to approximately $7,500 for repiping an entire house. Repiping an entire house with copper piping averages between $5,000-$20,000, although copper is overall reliable and commonly used.

Finding the Best Plumbers in 2021

Finding the best plumber for your repiping needs in 2021 is easier to do than ever before thanks to availability of multiple online resources. For example, HomeAdvisor is a trusted and popular resource for finding the best home-related services nationwide. The HomeAdvisor “Find Local Plumbers,” directory helps you locate top plumbers requested in each U.S. state with just a few basic clicks on one simple (and well-organized) web page. A few additional top plumbers for repiping in 2021 and resources to help find them include:

• Benjamin Franklin (The Punctual Plumber).

• Repipe Specialists.

• Nationwide Plumbers.

• Angi.

• Thumbtack.