How Much Does It Cost to Repipe a House?

Cost Factors to Replumb a House

Several factors impact the cost to install or replace plumbing in your home. The most significant considerations are your home size, how many plumbing fixtures you have, the location of your existing pipes, and the cost of materials.

Size of the Home

Single-story homes generally cost less to repipe than two-story homes because the latter requires more material to reach bathrooms and other plumbing fixtures on the upper floor. Larger homes with more bathrooms, wet bars, hot tubs, and even second kitchens will also cost more because of the additional fixtures.

Number of Plumbing Fixtures

Each fixture or appliance in your home that requires plumbing contributes to the installation cost of a new pipe. Plumbing fixtures include sinks, toilets, showers and tubs, water heaters, and washing machines. The more fixtures you have, the more you'll pay.

Location of the Pipes

The location of your plumbing pipes affects the project's total cost due to access issues. Pipes behind drywall are easy to access, but pipes in crawl spaces or under concrete are more difficult to work on.

Cost of Materials

The piping type you choose has a direct effect on materials costs. For example, piping made of copper costs more than chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). 

Supply and Drain Line Size

Another factor impacting the cost to replace plumbing in an old house is the size of the supply and drain lines. Smaller-diameter pipes (0.5 to 1 inches) are common for carrying water, while larger-diameter pipes (1 1/2-plus inches) are often used for waste drainage and are more expensive.

Inspection

If you're unsure if your home requires pipe replacement or you're unclear on the extent of possible pipe damage, it's a good idea to reach out to a local plumber for advice before committing to whole-house replumbing.

Many plumbers offer a thorough inspection service where they go through all the plumbing in your home (which could amount to hundreds of feet) to gauge its condition and identify trouble areas. This inspection can tell you whether you need to replace all the plumbing, replace some of the plumbing, or take no action because there are no issues.

This inspection can run around $250 to $1,200, but it can save you thousands of dollars in unnecessary work if the plumbing inspector finds you only need a minor repair or no work at all.

You may also need to factor in the cost of a permit. Part of the plumbing cost for a new house typically includes the permit price, which can range from $50 to $500. Many plumbing projects for existing homes may also require a permit.

Labor

Plumbers cost around $45 to $200 per hour, with hourly rates varying depending on the plumber's level of expertise. However, when providing a quote for a piping installation or replacement, a plumber will generally offer a per-project bid rather than bill you by the hour. Assuming you have a standard-size home with two bathrooms, a plumber will typically take 28 hours for the project. This translates to total labor charges of around $1,260 to $5,600, which include demolition—such as cutting through ceilings and walls to access hidden piping—and removing old piping.

"I would advise homeowners to exercise caution whenever hiring a plumber who wants to do every project on a time-plus-material basis rather than providing an upfront quote for the work,” says Jeff Botelho, Angi Expert Review Board member and Massachusetts-licensed journey-level plumber. This is “often an indication of a lack of confidence in themselves to complete the work on time and within a budget. Some jobs have too many unknown factors and will have to be done on time and materials, but they're few and far between," says Botelho.

Also, assuming your plumber has to cut through the ceiling or drywall, you may need to hire a drywall contractor or handyperson to make repairs. Ceiling repair costs generally run from $45 to $90 per square foot, while the cost to repair drywall is around $50 to $75 per square foot.

Cost to Repipe a House

If you already have a standing home but need to repipe it in its entirety, prices can range from $1,500 to $15,000. The type of pipe you choose and the size of your home are two of the biggest cost factors. When repiping an existing home, you may also need to account for drywall and ceiling repair costs.

If you need to remove old lead or polybutylene pipes, expect to spend on the higher end. The typical lead or polybutylene pipe replacement cost for an entire house leans toward the higher end of the price range. Your project may also include the cost to repair the main water line, which ranges from $350 to $1,550.

Cost to Plumb a House by Type of Pipe

The price of materials is one of the largest factors when calculating the cost to repipe a house. In general, you’ll choose between copper, CPVC, and cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) piping. PEX is the least costly, while copper piping is usually the most expensive. The different diameters available for each pipe type account for the wide price range.

Copper 

For material alone, a copper pipe costs around $2 to $8 per linear foot. Copper is much more expensive than plastic alternatives, but it offers a wide range of benefits:

• Proven durability: Because of its verifiable durability, building codes across the country permit copper piping for whole-house plumbing. It’s strong enough to survive natural disasters that otherwise level a home.

• Resistance: Copper is naturally resistant to bacteria and won't break down with UV exposure.

• Good investment: As with all types of pipe, copper can corrode and eventually burst, but you can expect copper to last 50–100-plus years.

CPVC 

In use since the 1960s, CPVC is the most common plumbing material found in modern construction. It costs around $0.50 to $1 per linear foot.

Like copper, CPVC is rigid and requires joints to make angles. It offers stronger joint connections than copper but has a lower temperature limit. CPVC does eventually leak and may ultimately burst, though this happens more often with low-quality materials and faulty installation. Correctly installed, high-quality CPVC can typically last 50 to 70 years.

PEX 

Made of a highly versatile plastic, cross-linked polyethylene or PEX piping costs around $0.40 to $2 per linear foot. The tubing material is popular for its physical flexibility.

PEX doesn't corrode like copper and resists the damaging effects of chlorine and scale buildup. Another big benefit is that plumbers can couple it with other material types like CPVC. While PEX can eventually burst with age, you can expect a life span of 80 to 100 years.

Cost to Install or Replace Plumbing by Linear Foot

Assuming your local plumber repair service charges $1 to $2 per linear foot in labor, the following table breaks down what you might pay for plumbing projects requiring 500 or 1,500 linear feet of piping.

Rough-In Plumbing Costs

Rough-in plumbing typically goes for $11,500 for the average 2,300-square-foot home, or about $5 per square foot. However, the number of floors and fixtures plus the types of piping you use can affect the final cost.

Some common plumbing costs for a new house include:

• Sewer line installation cost: $530–$2,280

• Water main installation cost: $600–$2,600

• Gas line installation cost: $280–$880

Signs You Need New Pipes

Here are a few signs to watch out for when determining whether you need new pipes:

• Discolored water: If your water is a murky brown or red, this usually indicates rusty or moldy pipes. Don’t continue to use this water, and call a plumber immediately.

• Clogs or leaks: If your drain is regularly clogging or your faucet is constantly leaking, it could indicate something is happening behind the wall.

• Bad water pressure: If your water pressure is suddenly lower or inconsistent from day to day, you may need new pipes. 

• A change in the taste of tap water: If your drinking water develops an unusual taste, it could indicate minerals in the water you’re not used to, often a result of rust or mold. Drink bottled water instead until a plumber inspects and fixes the issue.

• Visible mold: If the pipes aren’t hidden from plain view, you can visually inspect them in the basement or under the countertops. If you see any mold, it could indicate the pipes have a small leak. As long as the leak is contained to a single area of piping, the repair work and cost should be minimal.

DIY vs. Hire a Plumber

In almost all cases, it's better to hire a plumber than to attempt to DIY. Access to water and safe waste elimination is vital, but the work to ensure that access can be challenging. Locating existing pipes, removing them, and replacing them requires skill, precision, and hard work by a trained pro.

Even one improperly installed pipe could lead to leaks and severe water damage, and the average cost of water damage restoration is a whopping $3,300. In many cases, the cost of professional plumbing will be much less than repairing extensive water damage.

Further, plumbers have liability insurance to protect you if something goes wrong during the installation. Homeowners insurance will only cover faulty repairs if a pro handles the plumbing work.

"Whether you decide you want to attempt any plumbing projects in your home, the single most important thing is to learn how to shut off utilities in the case of an emergency,” says Botelho. “Nothing helps more in the case of a leaking water line than knowing how to turn it off quickly to minimize damage to your home."