Whole-House Pipe Replacement: 3 Things You Should Know
The average American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water per day. Imagine having to haul all that water to your house by hand! Indoor plumbing is one of those hugely important things that we never think about until something goes wrong.
Burst pipes, depending on where they are, can lead to thousands of dollars of damage in the home. For this reason, it’s best to put whole-house pipe replacement on your to-do list well before it starts becoming a problem.
Let’s look at what you need to know.
1. When To Replumb A House
Repiping a house is a big job. While it’s always better to be safe than sorry, you also don’t want to go through the hassle unnecessarily.
How do you know when you should replumb? Here are a couple of things to check.
What kind of plumbing material does your home have and how old is it? Galvanized steel can start going bad in as little as 20 years whereas cast iron can last up to 100 years or more. If your house is old your plumbing system may be nearing the end of its lifespan, which is a good time to repipe.
Additionally, if you see brown, rusty water coming out of the tap, experience low water pressure, or notice signs of leaks like wet baseboards or moisture/mold in the crawlspace, you may need to replace your system.
Click here to learn more about the benefits of repiping your home.
2. How Long Does Whole-House Pipe Replacement Take?
Replacing plumbing throughout your whole house sounds like a huge inconvenience. Thankfully, it isn’t as invasive as it might seem and most projects can be completed fairly quickly.
Depending on the type of piping system you have and the size of your home, the pipe replacement can take anywhere from two days to a week on average. Don’t worry, you’ll still have access to clean water during that time. Installers typically install the new system alongside the old one and only shut the water off when it’s time to change it over.
3. How Much Will it Cost to Replumb a House?
The price for whole-house pipe replacement can vary quite a bit depending on the materials you choose and the size of your home. On average, people spend about $2,280 to $5,120 to repipe their homes.
The best way to get a solid idea is to talk with a plumber in your area and get an estimate. Most will offer free estimates.
Better Safe than Sorry
Whole-house pipe replacement may seem expensive upfront but it is much less than you’ll end up having to pay in water damage if your house floods from broken pipes. If you’re not sure whether you need to have your pipes replaced or not, don’t be afraid to reach out to a reputable plumber in your area.
It’s better to be safe than sorry! Looking for more tips about homeownership? Check out more of our articles!
