A well functioning plumbing system is essential to any home, as well as any modern building. Plumbing will naturally weaken over time, and proper maintenance is one way to ensure the overall physical stability of any structure. In many cases, a complete repiping of the system is necessary. The type of metal used to repipe is very important and affects cost, stability and longevity of the pipe system.
Copper, though more expensive, has a longer “shelf” life than iron, and is the best metal to use when upgrading a building’s plumbing system. Copper repiping is the process of taking out all old piping and refitting a building’s plumbing system with copper pipes.
Older Buildings, Weaker Metals
A house built before 1980 will most likely have been fitted with iron piping. Iron weakens and rusts over time, lessening the strength of the pipes. Hard water running through such pipes also have a large tendency to calcify and this slowly builds up inside the pipe restricting water flow. This affects the water pressure and heat regulation within the entire plumbing system. The water quality is also affected, and rust and calcification bits could end up flowing through kitchen and bathtub taps.
Who Can Repipe A Home?
There are home repair agencies, as well as private, individual plumbers, who offer copper repiping. In some cases, the home owners may decide to complete the repiping themselves. There are several detailed guides available by mail, online and at home repair stores. Self-repair may not be the wisest route, however. Such a task is not recommended to those who do not have experience in plumbing, or who are not absolutely sure beforehand of how much work needs to be done. Finding a business who has specific copper repiping specialists on staff may be worth investigating. It certainly doesn’t hurt to get a quote.
The Cost of a Copper Repiping
Costs vary depending on necessity. It will also depend on which method of labor is used to complete the repiping job. If a homeowner chooses to go with a professional, they can receive a pre-work estimate. Many companies offer free consultation. The average cost of repiping an entire residential home is roughly around $5000. The size of the property, the number of drains, and the complexity of the building’s water system will determine how much a homeowner will ultimately pay. I have also gone through the experience a few times myself and have written a post here about the costs I paid for my own copper repipe jobs.
Long Term Money Saver
The long term effectiveness of copper repiping will save homeowners thousands of dollars in potential future repairs. New piping will also increase the property value of a home.
The upkeep of a home’s piping system is vital to the property’s longevity and stability. Timely examination and repair will be one of the best investments a homeowner can make.