Galvanized Plumbing to copper for a 3 flat

[Galvin Mendoza]

Good morning biggerpockets,

I am a new real estate investor who recently purchased my first 3 flat in Niles! It's a multifamily built in 1963 with galvanized pipes and I currently have two tenants on the 1st and 2nd floor. My tenant on the 2nd floor told me the hot water in the kitchen faucet has very weak water pressure, but the rest of that unit doesn't have any issues. I also heard that sometimes the water backs up in the kitchen from the previous basement tenant. We are currently working on renovations on the basement unit for the kitchen and bathroom and the demolition has been done. From what I've been reading, it sounds like this is the time to change to copper piping but it sounds like it will cost a lot and take some time to complete. It's supposed to be our primary residence so we are running out of time to move in since we should move in by Nov 1st.

I was thinking about changing just the basement plumbing to copper and waiting till I renovate the rest of the units to change their piping as well. Has anyone ever done a partial replacement to copper with dielectric union and given anyone issues over a few years? Anyone have a good plumber I could use for this job?

Given my time constraint, if I decide not to change the plumbing to copper and wait till a year or two to replace all the piping. Does changing my piping involving pretty much making me redo like a third or fourth of my renovations for bathroom and kitchen due to all the cuts they have to make or can really good plumbers just make minimal cuts into drywall, cabinets, etc. I don't really know the whole process of when plumbers change all of the pipes to copper and what it looks like. Would I have to have no tenants in the building or just let them know the water will be off for a little.

Any advice would be really appreciated!

[Jonathan Klemm]

Good morning @Galvin Mendoza!  Congrats on your property purchase in Niles, a great NW Chicago suburb!!

Regarding your 2nd floor kitchen faucet that is experiencing low water pressure, it's likely a simple fix such as the faucet aerator (a screen that helps create a smooth stream of water). Don't worry, it's not a major issue. You can try changing or adjusting the aerator or even consider replacing the faucet if needed.

With the copper to galvanized issue... I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing the copper in the basement NOW since you are in the demo stage.  YES, you can transition from new copper to old galvanized, but just be sure the plumber uses the right fittings to prevent corrosion.  

If you can continue to renovate the 1st and 2nd floors, that is when I would update the plumbing and copper in those units.

We may have a plumber who would work in that area...happy to share a contact with you.