Whole-house repiping in Tampa
When a home's supply pipe is at the end of its life, patching one leak at a time costs more than replacing it. A repipe swaps the whole system for new pipe, usually routed through the attic and walls instead of under the slab.
When a repipe makes sense
- Gray polybutylene pipe, often stamped PB2110
- Galvanized steel pipe causing low pressure or brown water
- Repeated pinhole leaks in copper
- More than one slab leak
- An insurance company requiring the pipe to be replaced
- A major remodel that already opens the walls
Pipe materials
PEX
Flexible, resists scale and has fewer fittings, so there are fewer places to leak. The usual choice for Tampa repipes.
Copper (type L)
Long-lasting and rigid. Costs more and takes more labor than PEX.
CPVC
Used in some repipes, but it gets brittle with age and heat, so it's less common in attics.
How a repipe goes
- Plan the routes. Lines are mapped through the attic and down interior walls to each fixture.
- Protect the house. Floors and furniture are covered before any walls are opened.
- Run and connect. New lines go in and connect to every fixture, the water heater and the main.
- Pressure test and inspect. The system is tested and the permit inspection is scheduled.
- Close up. Access openings are patched as agreed in your quote.
What affects the price
- Number of bathrooms and fixtures.
- Square footage and number of stories.
- Pipe material.
- Attic and wall access.
- Drywall patching and the permit.
You get the price for your job before any work starts.
Polybutylene and galvanized in Tampa Bay homes
Polybutylene was installed in a lot of Tampa Bay homes built between the late 1970s and the mid-1990s. It tends to fail without warning, and many Florida insurers won't write or renew a policy on a home that still has it. Homes built before the 1960s, like many in Seminole Heights and South Tampa, often still have galvanized pipe that has rusted from the inside.
Common questions
How do I know if I have polybutylene?
Look at the pipe coming out of the wall under sinks and at the water heater. Polybutylene is flexible gray plastic, usually stamped PB2110.
Do I need to move out during a repipe?
Usually not. Water is typically off during working hours and back on in the evening. Most homes take a few days.
PEX or copper?
PEX is the common choice: it costs less, installs faster and handles hard water well. Copper is a good option if you prefer it, at a higher price.
Will a repipe help with my insurance?
Replacing polybutylene or galvanized pipe often removes the reason an insurer declined the home. Keep the permit and final inspection paperwork for them.
Related services
Areas we serve
Repiping across Tampa and these nearby communities: