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What a repipe is — and the Houston pipe that fails
A whole-home repipe replaces all the supply piping that carries fresh water to your fixtures — abandoning the old, failing material and running new lines (almost always PEX, sometimes copper) through the walls and attic. It ends pinhole leaks, restores pressure, and clears up discolored water for good, instead of chasing one leak at a time.
Three pipe materials drive most Houston repipes:
- Polybutylene (1978–mid-1990s). Gray plastic supply pipe installed in millions of homes, including many Houston-area builds of that era. It degrades on contact with chlorinated city water and fails from the inside — and insurers increasingly flag or refuse to cover it.
- Galvanized steel (pre-1960s, and older builds). Corrodes and scales internally, choking pressure and rusting your water. Common in Houston's oldest housing stock.
- Early or thin-wall copper. Houston's water chemistry and decades of service produce pinhole leaks; once they start in one spot, more tend to follow.
Signs it's time to repipe:
- Recurring pinhole leaks — fix one, another shows up months later.
- Discolored, rusty, or metallic-tasting water, especially on first draw.
- Chronically low water pressure throughout the house.
- Polybutylene or galvanized pipe anywhere in the home — a material problem, not just a symptom.
- Your insurer flagged your plumbing or asked about polybutylene.
What it costs in Houston — 2026
| Scope | Typical Houston range (2026) |
|---|---|
| PEX repipe — 1,500–2,000 sq ft home | $5,500–$9,000 |
| PEX repipe — smaller / single-story | $3,500–$6,500 |
| Copper repipe | $8,000–$15,000+ |
| Add: City of Houston permit | $50–$800 |
| Add: drywall repair + paint | $300–$1,500+ |
| Add: water main replacement (if needed) | $600–$2,500 |
The hidden costs most quotes leave out
Three line items are routinely excluded from a headline repipe price: the permit, drywall repair and paint for the openings, and a water main replacement if yours is also failing. A homeowner who accepts a $6,500 quote without confirming these are bundled can easily land at $9,000+ once the drywall crew finishes. Always ask: "Does this include the permit, the drywall patching, and the water main?"
PEX vs copper for a Houston home
| PEX | Copper | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 30–50% less | Higher |
| Install | Faster, fewer wall openings | Slower, more openings |
| Corrosion / pinholes | Resistant | Vulnerable over decades |
| Freeze tolerance | Flexes — handles freezes better | More likely to split |
| Lifespan | 40–50+ years | 50+ years |
For most Houston homes, PEX-A is the practical default. Copper is a fine choice if you specifically prefer it and budget for it — just know you're paying a premium for a material more exposed to local water chemistry.
What the process looks like
- Walkthrough + permit. The master plumber maps the runs, confirms material and scope, and pulls the City of Houston permit.
- Open + run new lines. The crew opens only the wall and ceiling sections needed, runs new PEX (or copper) to every fixture, and ties in to the main.
- Rough-in inspection. The city inspects the new piping before any wall is closed.
- Close up + restore. Walls are patched (if included in your scope), and water service is kept on each night where possible throughout.
- Final inspection. The city signs off, and your home is on new pipe — typically 1–3 days start to finish.
Repiping because of slab leaks?
If you're looking at a repipe because of repeated slab leaks in under-slab copper, a whole-home repipe that reroutes lines overhead — abandoning the buried pipe entirely — is often the permanent fix that ends the leak-after-leak cycle. It's also a natural moment to replace an aging water heater, since the crew is already working the water lines.
How we vet Houston plumbers
A repipe is a major job — and the place cut-rate operators love to hide excluded costs. Before any plumber receives a single lead from us, we confirm:
- Active Texas Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) license — verified against the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) register.
- Current general liability insurance — checked, not just claimed.
- Transparent, all-in quotes — permit, drywall scope, and water main spelled out, not buried.
- A review history of 4 stars or better across Google and the BBB, with no unresolved TSBPE complaints.
- Houston service coverage — works our older housing stock every week, local to your ZIP.
Quotes from partner pros are honored, with the hidden costs surfaced up front — so the number you approve is the number you pay.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to repipe a house in Houston?
Most Houston homes repipe in PEX for $5,500–$9,000 for a typical 1,500–2,000 sq ft house; smaller or single-story homes run $3,500–$6,500. A full copper repipe runs $8,000–$15,000+. But the base quote is only part of the story — budget for the permit ($50–$800), drywall repair and paint ($300–$1,500+), and water main replacement if needed ($600–$2,500). A $6,500 repipe quote that excludes those can land at $9,000+ by the time the drywall crew leaves, so confirm what's bundled.
PEX or copper — which should I choose in Houston?
For most Houston homes, PEX is the practical winner: it costs 30–50% less than copper, installs faster with fewer wall openings, resists the pinhole corrosion that plagues copper, and handles a freeze better because it can flex slightly. Copper still has fans — it's rigid, time-proven, and some buyers prefer it — but it's pricier and more vulnerable to Houston's water chemistry over decades. Unless you specifically want copper, PEX-A is what most reputable Houston repipe specialists install.
What are the signs I need a whole-home repipe?
Recurring pinhole leaks (especially in older copper), discolored or rusty water, chronically low water pressure, water that takes forever to run clear, and visible corrosion on exposed pipe. The biggest red flag is the pipe material itself: if your home has polybutylene or galvanized steel supply lines, you're on borrowed time regardless of current symptoms. One leak is a repair; a pattern of leaks across the house is the signal to repipe.
Is polybutylene pipe a problem, and will insurance flag it?
Yes on both counts. Polybutylene — gray plastic pipe installed in millions of U.S. homes from 1978 to the mid-1990s — degrades on contact with chlorinated municipal water and fails from the inside, often without warning. As of 2026, many homeowners-insurance carriers either flag polybutylene or decline to cover homes that still have it. If your Houston home has poly, replacing it is both a reliability fix and increasingly an insurance necessity.
How long does a whole-home repipe take?
Most Houston repipes take one to three days. A PEX repipe on a single-story home is often a one- to two-day job; larger or two-story homes run two to three. A reputable crew works to keep your water on each night, opens only the wall sections they need, and coordinates the drywall patching afterward. The plumbing rough-in is inspected, then walls are closed and a final inspection signs off the job.
Do I need a permit to repipe in Houston?
Yes — a whole-home repipe is permitted plumbing work, and inside Houston city limits the permit is pulled by a registered master plumber. It triggers a rough-in inspection (before walls close) and a final inspection. The permit protects you: it's proof the work met code, which matters at resale and for insurance. A quote that skips the permit to look cheaper is a quote to avoid.
Will the plumber patch the drywall they open?
It depends on the contractor, and it's the most important question to ask up front. Some repipe specialists include drywall patching and texture in their price; others leave clean, ready-to-patch openings and you handle (or they subcontract) the drywall and paint separately. Neither is wrong — but you need to know which one you're buying, because drywall repair and paint can add $300–$1,500+ to the real total.
Polybutylene, galvanized, or leaking copper?
Drop your number and ZIP at the top of this page. A vetted Houston plumber calls you back within 30 minutes during business hours and gives you an honest, all-in repipe quote — permit and drywall included — in writing before any work starts. Serving Houston and the surrounding neighborhoods.
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