When should you Repipe a house?

There are several common issues why repiping a house is necessary and recommended:

• An older home. A house that is fifty years old or more will most likely have galvanized piping that has never been replaced, except maybe in areas where leaks have been repaired over the years. Galvanized pipes are known to get corroded and burst as they age. Today, contractors working on an older house, repiping with PEX is standard procedure.
• Low water pressure. If the water isn’t flowing as fast and hard as it once did, chances are the pipes have mineral buildup and rust clogging them. This doesn’t happen overnight, it takes years for this to happen, but you’ll find that repiping a house is the best solution.
• Brown or red water. There are types of piping that rust over time and it will begin to flake off into the water supply of your home, turning the tap water a brownish to reddish color. The only remedy for this is a total repiping a house because those are old pipes and they are only going to get older and keep affecting your water quality.
• Multiple water pipe leaks. An isolated water pipe leak every so often should be expected by a homeowner. But when you are having one after another, so many that it has become almost a normal occurrence, repiping a house is the only long-term solution. Look at this as an investment in your home, or even a house that you plan to flip, that will have a good ROI at the end of the job.

This repiping a house process is what we are going to chat about here today. Some are questions that are commonly asked, and there are concerns about what house repipe costs are and if they are worth doing, especially in a house that you’re planning on flipping.

Is repiping covered by insurance?

Typically, the answer is no. In the view of most insurance companies, repiping a house is a preventative measure and that it is the responsibility of the homeowner and should be paid by the homeowner as such.

However, if there is any damage caused by corroded piping or failing pipes, and you have proof that the damaged sustained was because of those pipes, bringing about accidental and sudden leaking, your homeowner’s policy may pay for a total job of repiping a house.

For instance, if failing water pipes were the first sign of causing a busted water pipe that resulted in water damage, your policy may cover the repair cost of any water damage, and maybe the cost of repairing that specific section of piping.

Keep in mind that most insurance companies will pay water pipe leak damage twice, but after that, they will most likely decline another claim and may cancel your policy. Every homeowner’s insurance policy is different, and you should verify it with your agent.

When it comes to water pipe breaks under a slab, you have a better chance that your homeowner’s insurance will pay for the following:

• Water damage caused by the slab leak 
• Structural damage from the slab leak
• Tear out and replace the slab, but not the water pipe
• Damage to your personal belongings if caused by a “covered peril”

Typically, homeowner’s insurance policies won’t pay for repairing or replacing any broken pipe because of normal wear and tear, tree roots, or homeowner neglect.

How long does it take to repipe a whole house?

The average time for repiping a house is one to five days. There are a few factors involved and each can make a difference in the time frame. The first factor being, the size of the house. If a permit is needed by the city, that can take some time depending on the city, and then there will be a require city inspection once the job is deemed complete. The last step of repiping a house is repairing any holes the contractor made in the drywall for the new piping.  The plumber you choose to do the repiping should be able to give you a written estimate that includes the pricing, the guarantee, and the timeframe.

Are PEX pipes safe?

Homeowners and plumbing contractors are going with PEX for repiping a house these days because it is less expensive and easier to work with. But preliminary research indicates that there may be some issues with PEX tubing and water quality.

At this time in the U.S., there isn’t much known about which plastic pipes can affect the quality of drinking water quality. PEX piping is susceptible to benzene, gasoline, oil, pesticides, and other contaminants permeating through it whereas other piping types don’t have that issue. The concern with these contaminants is they can leak through the PEX and into the water itself, then that water is consumed by humans and animals.

There is variability between all brands is tremendous because not all brands are equal. Therefore, the best advice a homeowner can take is if there is an odor in the water – don’t drink it, but that is a true statement regardless of what type of piping your home has.

How long will PEX last?

In the world of plumbing, PEX pipes are the way to go for new homes or repiping a house. PEX works great against corrosive material and won’t wear out as easy or fast as old-fashioned copper piping. On average, PEX piping has a life expectancy of 50 years or longer. Why?

PEX is made with a criss-cross pattern that reinforces it, giving it a longer lifespan and making it more durable than the old copper piping or PVC piping. Not only is PEX used in new houses and repiping a house, but it is also used for radiant heating and other applications and systems.