While the majority of repiping jobs fall between $4,200 and $6,000 on average when installing PEX pipes, the cost to repipe a house can range anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000+ depending on a variety of variables.
Repiping Pricing Factors
- House size and number of stories: To completely repipe a larger house, additional labor and piping materials are necessary to install the new plumbing system, increasing the cost. When replumbing a multi-story home, cost increases further when demolishing walls to replace vertical pipes. Conversely, a smaller home requires less material and labor, decreasing the cost. Another aspect to consider is the age of the house; the older it is, the more likely the current piping has neared the end of its useful lifespan. In this case, complete replumbing needs to be done in order to prevent further issues like leakage and water damage from arising. Older homes with remodeled sections will usually have additional plumbing– this also poses a problem that requires more resources in order to either work around it or replace the system completely.
- Number of plumbing fixtures: Their purpose in the plumbing system is to drain and deliver water. Examples of fixtures include sinks, toilets, dishwashers, showers, water heaters, bathtubs, washing machines, and others The more fixtures in a house, the higher the repipe cost due to increased time and materials needed to install new pipes.
- Ease of pipe accessibility: Portions of the plumbing system that are only accessible through closets or small crawlspaces cost more to replace than sections that run behind walls. Due to the limited space, it requires additional effort and time to remove the old pipes and install new ones.
- Diameter of the pipe: The cost of piping material increases as the diameter increases.
- Inspections & Permits: Additional costs may be added in order to obtain certain permits or get professional inspections done, depending on the area you live in. Be sure to hire an experienced contractor so that no violations of local mandates occur.
- Miscellaneous factors: Other included services and add-ons, general cleanup procedures, warranties, drywall repair, et cetera all factor into the final prices of a repipe too.
- Type of pipe being installed: Different piping materials incur different costs:
| Pipe Material | Cost Per Foot |
| CPVC | $0.50 – $1 |
| PEX | $0.50 – $2 |
| Copper | $2 – $4 |
When considering and comparing quotes from multiple contractors/repiping companies, be sure to keep the above factors in mind; especially aspects like the pipe material to be installed and any additional fees or services included in the price!
How Expensive Is It To Repipe A House With Copper?
Copper is the most expensive piping material available, with prices ranging from $5,000 up to $20,000 to repipe a house. While copper piping is durable, the material is rigid – driving up the cost. Installation requires wall demolition in addition to almost twice the amount of time to complete compared to installing PEX piping. The material also plays a significant factor, with copper costing up to $4 per foot.
Copper pipes further require additional costs to maintain and eventually replace completely because they are subject to corrosion. Blue-green stains will often appear in sinks, showers, faucets, and other plumbing fixtures caused by dissolved copper that integrates with the water supply. Tiny holes may also develop as a result of corrosion, creating water leaks in multiple spots throughout your plumbing system.
Copper piping also only has a lifetime of around 50 years; however, PEX has a projected lifetime of 100+ years, eliminating the need for an additional repipe (and corresponding cost) within a homeowner’s lifetime. Learn more about the differences between copper and PEX piping.
What Makes PEX the Cost-Effective Choice for Repiping?
Cross-linked polyethylene tubing (commonly referred to as PEX) is far less expensive than other types of piping, costing $2,000 – $5,000 less to repipe a house. This is primarily due to the lower labor and material costs associated with it. Compared to copper piping, which would cost $8,000 – $10,000 to replace in a two-bathroom home, PEX would only cost on average $4,000 – $6,000 – offering significant cost-saving opportunities.
PEX is also a flexible plastic hose that can be snaked into walls with minimal damage. This flexibility limits the amount of wall demolition necessary that would otherwise have been required to install rigid piping materials such as copper. It also reduces the amount of time and labor needed to install the pipes, which contributes to the overall lower cost of a house repipe. Learn more about PEX repiping and its advantages.
Save Thousands by Contacting a PEX Repipe Specialist
Contacting a repipe specialist and not your go-to plumber will save you money in the long run. While plumbers can identify issues with your pipes, they’re likely to utilize short-term solutions for an immediate problem that will continue to persist in the long term. Individual pipes will be replaced as they break, and each time you’ll pay a service fee.
Repiping specialists will be able to recognize when your entire plumbing system needs to be replaced – not just individual pipes. In doing so, all the issues you’re experiencing are fixed at one time! You won’t need to continue paying a general plumber to fix problem after problem.
Based in Houston, Texas, The Repipe Company is proud to offer superior PEX repiping services for local residents. We are Uponor Certified in PEX plumbing, and we boast numerous five-star ratings from our customers! We repipe your home with PEX at an affordable price, offer reasonable financing options, and include a lifetime guarantee warranty. Contact us today, schedule an appointment, and we’ll analyze your current plumbing system to give you a quote for our services.
