Repipe Without The Drama
Whole-House Repipe in Broward County
A repipe replaces your home's water supply lines — the pipes that bring water to fixtures — in one planned project instead of leak by leak. Polybutylene, corroded galvanized, and homes on their third slab leak are the classic Broward triggers. Done right it is days of orderly work, not weeks of chaos.
Quick Answer
A whole-house repipe replaces the water supply piping (not drains) with new PEX or copper, typically over two to four days: pipes route through walls and attic, water stays on each night, and drywall patches follow. Triggers: polybutylene pipe, corroded galvanized, recurring slab leaks, or an insurer demanding it. Cost follows home size, fixture count, and finishes.
- Supply lines replaced; water on each evening
- PEX or copper — quoted with the trade-offs explained
- Permits, inspections, and drywall patching in the plan
- Licensed, insured Broward plumbers (CFC050548)
The Three Classic Triggers
Polybutylene — the gray 1978-1995 pipe that insurers nonrenew over — is trigger one; its failure mode is chemical and patient, and replacement is the only cure carriers accept. Old galvanized steel is trigger two: it corrodes shut from the inside, strangling pressure, and rusting your water on the way. Trigger three is the slab-leak veteran: after the second or third under-slab copper leak, rerouting everything overhead in one project beats funding leak-of-the-month indefinitely.
What The Project Actually Looks Like
Day one maps routes and begins running new lines through the attic and walls — modern repipes route overhead, abandoning under-slab runs entirely. Fixtures cut over branch by branch; water service returns each evening. New lines pressure-test, the municipal inspection passes, and then the drywall phase patches the planned access openings. A practiced crew makes this boring; the horror stories come from crews improvising their first one on your house.
PEX Or Copper: The Material Conversation
PEX dominates modern repipes for honest reasons: fewer joints (fewer future leak points), immunity to the electrolysis and water-chemistry corrosion that kills copper in some Broward neighborhoods, quieter operation, and lower labor cost. Copper remains the premium traditionalist's choice — durable, proven, and preferred by some owners and appraisers. We quote PEX by default and copper on request, with the price difference and trade-offs in writing rather than in folklore.
Cost Factors, Not Fairy Tales
What moves a repipe quote: square footage and stories; fixture count (every sink, toilet, shower, and bib is a branch); attic access quality; finish level (tile and custom finishes raise the patching stakes); material choice; and whether the water heater and valves come along for replacement while everything is open — often smart. Permits and inspection are always included. Quotes priced without walking the house are guesses; ours follow a walkthrough, and competing quotes that diverge wildly are what the free second opinion reads.
Whole-House Repipe FAQs
How long does a whole-house repipe take?
Commonly two to four working days for the piping in a typical single-family home, with water restored each evening, plus the drywall-patching phase afterward. Larger homes and premium finishes extend the calendar honestly.
Do I have to move out during a repipe?
Usually not — water returns nightly and the work moves room by room. The noisy, dusty phases are daytime events. Households with special needs sometimes choose to be out for a day or two; most just live around it.
Is PEX as good as copper for a repipe?
For most Broward homes, PEX is the better modern answer: fewer joints, corrosion immunity, and lower cost. Copper remains an excellent premium option. We put both in writing when asked — the wrong answer is whichever one gets installed badly.
Does a repipe include the drain pipes?
No — a repipe replaces water supply lines. Drains are a separate system with separate problems (see our cast iron page for older-Broward drains). Some projects pair them; the scopes and prices stay distinct.
Will my insurance pay for a repipe?
Generally insurers cover sudden water damage, not the planned replacement of aging pipe — but many carriers demand repipes (polybutylene especially) as a condition of coverage. Document the completed, permitted work; it changes your insurability story. Specifics belong to your agent.
How much does a whole-house repipe cost in Broward?
It scales with size, fixture count, access, finishes, and material — which is why honest quotes follow a walkthrough. We review pricing before any work is approved, and wildly diverging competitor quotes are exactly what our free second opinion is for.
