Replacing galzanized plumbing?

[JT Spangler]

Got a 2/2 cottage under contract, and the inspector reports that the water pressure and drainage is not great because of the original galvanized pipes. This isn't a job I've tackled before, so my questions are:

(1) What's the difficulty level for me to repipe it (with PEX, maybe? And PVC drain lines)?

(2) What's an approximate price to hire it out, so I can ask for an allowance from the seller?

[Jon Holdman]

Plumbing seems to be the most variable of the trades as far as pricing.  I've had bids for the same job where the highest was 4X or more the cheapest.

This usually requires permits and a licensed contractor, unless its a property you personally occupy.  Talk to the city about what's required and if DIY is even an option.

Impossible to estimate since its dependent on the length of runs and the accessibility of the pipes.  DIY'ing it I would certainly use PEX.  Easy to work with and very forgiving.  You have to invest in the tools, but once you have that its cheaper than copper.  Buy fittings online, if you can get it well planned enough to do that.  Cheaper than Home Depot.

Are you replacing the sewer line all the way to the tap?  That's several grand all by itself.  Very dependant on local conditions, depth and length.

[Jon Holdman]

Plumbing seems to be the most variable of the trades as far as pricing.  I've had bids for the same job where the highest was 4X or more the cheapest.

This usually requires permits and a licensed contractor, unless its a property you personally occupy.  Talk to the city about what's required and if DIY is even an option.

Impossible to estimate since its dependent on the length of runs and the accessibility of the pipes.  DIY'ing it I would certainly use PEX.  Easy to work with and very forgiving.  You have to invest in the tools, but once you have that its cheaper than copper.  Buy fittings online, if you can get it well planned enough to do that.  Cheaper than Home Depot.

Are you replacing the sewer line all the way to the tap?  That's several grand all by itself.  Very dependant on local conditions, depth and length.

[JT Spangler]

Yeah, depending on the scope I may DIY, but I need an estimate or two to go back to the sellers with and negotiate. I've got queries out to two plumbers, but thought I'd also check in here.

I certainly hope I don't have to replace the sewer line, though! @Jon Holdman 

[Pat Martin]

I'm actually doing the same thing in a 3/2.  Replacing old copper with pex and galvanized drain pipe with pvc.  My quote was $1,750. That includes shut off valves and shower valves and all other materials and labor.

[JT Spangler]

@Pat Martin  Thanks a lot for that! How many quotes did you get, if you don't mind me asking?

[Arlan Potter]

Pex is the way to for the water lines. 100 yr life, and no rust. Easy to do yourself if you can do it hiding from the code office. I can re plumb a small house in a couple hours to a half a day. If I hire it done, a day and a half at $100/hr plus twice the cost of the materials. 

I have never seen galvanized drain lines except some vent lines above floor level and usually never need replaced. Under the floor drains are cast iron and also rarely need changed. The issue on older homes is the lead traps and lead toilet traps. Easy to cut out the lead toilet flange and replace with PVC. Yard lines can be clay tile or orange berg. Tile is ok, orange berg has trouble with roots. Rotorooter time.

One thing on Pex.  At the plumbing supply house you can buy 20' lengths of straight Pex. Only buy a 100' roll if you are installing a ground line. Under a house straight Pex is easier to work with. 

[Steve Vaughan]

I'd get bids from a couple plumbers and ask for the concession.  Every time I try and DIY a major deal like this, I under charge the seller and end up hosed.  

[Account Closed]

same problem in the house i just bought, mainly lack of water flow on the hot/cold lines. 

mine is a 2 bed 1 bath house. I did it all in CPVC. 100% new hot and cold lines from the point water line enters the house. cost me about 250 bucks total in materials. waste lines were fine but I would expect if i had to replace waste lines it would be another 75 to 100 bucks. 

PVC and CPVC is very inexpensive and its legal in nearly all cities ( i live in omaha where its regularly well below 0 degrees fyi). no torch, just some primer and sealent and a 10 dollar hack saw is all you need. just make sure you support every few feet, maybe not required but makes it allot more stiff.

I started peice mealing the galvanized back together before hand then just decided to take the sawz all to everything and replace with CPVC. made it much simpler :) 

im 95% done, will be done tomorrow. i will have about 20 hours in it all by the time its all said and done.... but im slow and tend to take allot of local bar breaks in between. 

same amount of plumbing in copper would of likely cost me over 800 bucks. I did my last house in copper before i found out about CPVC. 

[Mark Langdon]

Get 3 quotes from contractors to compare versus doing it yourself with PEX. Only you can decide after that for your time; expertise and what that is worth.

[Steve Olafson]

You might have a bit more homework to do on the drains.  The parts above ground can be changed within reason or simply cleaned out.  If the plugs are farther down it might not be a big deal.  You just want to make sure that there are not roots or other breaks in the line.