Cost of Copper Re-Pipe in the SF Bay Area

[ExFlyBoy5]

I have heard of old copper piping developing pin holes that require repair/replacement.... I've never heard of that with PEX.

Depends on the area. This was a HUGE issue for houses in our former area of NW Atlanta (houses built in late 70's early 80's). For those that decided to buy in that area in the mid to late 80's...well then came the dreaded "poly" pipes which my DW would SERIOUSLY advise any of her R/E buyer clients to avoid AT ALL COSTS.

 

[Another Reader]

Depends on the area. This was a HUGE issue for houses in our former area of NW Atlanta (houses built in late 70's early 80's). For those that decided to buy in that area in the mid to late 80's...well then came the dreaded "poly" pipes which my DW would SERIOUSLY advise any of her R/E buyer clients to avoid AT ALL COSTS.

That's polybutylene piping. There were a number of subdivisions in the Phoenix area built with that around 1980. It caused a lot of initial resistance to pex as a result.

Guess the next thing on the "to do" list is to call a couple of local real estate agents and property managers to see what they have been recommending for their clients.

 

[braumeister]

Depends on the area. This was a HUGE issue for houses in our former area of NW Atlanta (houses built in late 70's early 80's). For those that decided to buy in that area in the mid to late 80's...well then came the dreaded "poly" pipes which my DW would SERIOUSLY advise any of her R/E buyer clients to avoid AT ALL COSTS.

Apparently in many areas. We had a house built in the early 90s that used polybutylene pipe (brand name was "Blue Max") and it split between the water meter and the house, about 8 or 9 years later. I came out to get the paper one morning and saw a small geyser shooting up from the lawn.

It was about a 100 foot run from meter to house and I elected to replace it with copper. Cost about $6,000. Fortunately, I was able to make a claim on a class action settlement they had made a few years earlier so I got reimbursed for the whole thing.

The plumber who replaced that line told me he was looking forward to more work, because I was simply the first one on the street to experience a break. Blue Max was already infamous.

 

[ncbill]

That's polybutylene piping. There were a number of subdivisions in the Phoenix area built with that around 1980. It caused a lot of initial resistance to pex as a result.

Guess the next thing on the "to do" list is to call a couple of local real estate agents and property managers to see what they have been recommending for their clients.

Got PB pipe, metal (not plastic) fittings, though...no problems so far except for one small section that started weeping 25+ years after installation where some idiot forced it into an almost 90º bend rather than use an elbow.

On an old (1940) rent house years ago I hired a guy doing galvanized to copper at the local hospital as his day job to do the same for the rental.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

I am in the OPs camp, I must say. Even if it is not entirely rational -- I like copper.

I replaced all the galvy in my 1929 2.5-BA home with thick-wall copper about 15 years ago. I can tell you the cost (~$1300), but that is not very relevant because (a) 15 years ago! and (b) I did it myself.

 

[RetireeRobert]

Here is one of the repiping specialists, they are multistate (maybe a franchise), and have Bay area outlet. They do either copper or PEX repipe jobs, so you could get a good feel for comparative costs. If you do decide to do copper, and the value of the house is already "up there", perhaps the added cost of copper is not that significant, even with last few months price spikes. https://repipespecialists.com/locations/repipe-cost-san-francisco/
If you look at their site, they have a tab for either PEX repipe or for copper repipe. Also look to have an easy request for estimate form. Some may be interested in what you find out costwise.

 

[Another Reader]

After some research, I found a couple like that. I'm going to try a probably useless Nextdoor post to see if anyone has done this recently.

 

[Retch The Grate]

Definitely interested in what you find as we definitely have galvanized and copper in the house we bought here in SF, and now that we are mostly done with the $50k electrical rework, and the $2.3k exterior door replacement, worrying about the pipes is the next surprise expense I think I need to be preparing for.