What Is PEX Repiping?
Repiping means replacing the water supply lines that feed your faucets, toilets, showers, appliances and water heater. PEX repiping replaces them with PEX tubing. It does not touch your drain or sewer lines, which carry waste out of the house. Because PEX bends around corners, it needs far fewer fittings than rigid pipe, and each fitting is one less place for a leak.
PEX-A vs. PEX-B vs. PEX-C: What’s the Difference?
All three are cross-linked polyethylene. The letters describe how the cross-linking is done.
- PEX-A is the most flexible. It bends tightly, and a kink can usually be fixed with heat. It uses expansion fittings that make a very strong connection.
- PEX-B is stiffer and tolerates high pressure well. It is connected with crimp or clamp rings, and it is a common choice because the parts are widely available.
- PEX-C falls between the two in flexibility and is also joined with crimp or clamp rings.
For most homes, the installer’s skill and the quality of the fittings matter more than the letter. We will explain which one we recommend for your house.
When Should a Denver Home Be Repiped?
Homes built decades ago can have supply pipes that are near the end of their life. Signs it is time to price a repipe:
- Polybutylene pipe. Gray plastic piping used in many homes built from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. It is known for failing, and insurers sometimes ask about it. See our guide to polybutylene pipe replacement cost.
- Galvanized steel pipe. It rusts from the inside, narrows over time and causes brown water and weak pressure.
- Copper with repeated pinhole leaks. Several leaks in a short period usually mean the pipe is wearing out everywhere, not only where it leaks.
- Low pressure through the whole house. If every fixture is weak, corroded supply lines may be the cause.
- Discolored or metallic-tasting water. Rust or corrosion in the lines.
- Water damage from hidden leaks. Stains on ceilings, damp drywall or a rising water bill.
If you are not sure what is in your walls, we can check your pipe material when we visit.
Repipe or Repair? How to Decide
A single leak in pipe that is otherwise in good shape is usually a repair. A repipe is the better value when:
- You have had more than one leak in the same year
- The pipe is a type known to fail, such as polybutylene
- Corrosion is widespread, or the pressure is poor
- Access is easy now, for instance during a remodel
- You plan to stay in the house for years
Paying for several repairs and the damage they cause can cost more than a repipe, and a repipe replaces the cause.
What Does Repiping Involve?
Every house is different, but a typical repipe follows these steps:
- We inspect the plumbing and explain what we found.
- You receive an estimate and approve the plan.
- We pull the permit and schedule the work.
- We shut off the water, open small access points in walls and ceilings, and run new PEX lines.
- We reconnect every fixture and appliance.
- We pressure-test the system and arrange the inspection.
- We restore the water and walk you through the work.
Our page lists a whole-home repipe at one to three days, with water usually back on each evening. Opening walls is part of the job, so ask us what is included in wall repair.
PEX vs. Copper Repipe: Honest Comparison
- Cost. PEX materials usually cost less than copper, and installation can be faster, because the tubing is flexible and needs fewer fittings.
- Durability. Both can last for decades. Copper can corrode or develop pinholes in some water conditions. PEX does not corrode, but it must be protected from sunlight and installed with proper fittings.
- Freezing. PEX tolerates freezing better than rigid pipe, but it is not freezeproof, so exposed runs in cold areas still need protection.
- Heat and sunlight. Copper handles heat and sunlight. PEX needs shielding from UV light and the right connections at the water heater.
- Noise. PEX tends to be quieter. Copper can transmit noise and sometimes pings as it heats.
- Resale. Buyers know both materials. Fresh, permitted plumbing helps either way.
Some owners prefer copper for exposed or high-heat runs, and we will tell you if that applies. If you are weighing copper, read our page on copper repiping.
Is PEX Safe for Drinking Water, and How Long Does It Last?
PEX used for drinking water should be certified to NSF/ANSI standards for potable plumbing. The certification is printed on the tubing, so you or an inspector can check it. Unlike polybutylene, PEX has no history of widespread failure. It does have limits: sunlight breaks it down, so exposed runs outdoors need a different material or a protective sleeve, and some solvents and fuels can damage it, so we keep it away from them. Our current page cites a service life of 40 to 50 years or more, which is a long-term estimate and not a promise.
How to Prepare for a Repipe
A repipe disrupts the house for a few days, and a little planning helps.
- Clear the area around the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and water heater so we can reach the walls.
- Move fragile items and wall hangings away from the rooms where we will open the walls.
- Plan for the water to be off for part of each day, and store drinking and cooking water if you need it.
- Tell us about pets, children and anyone with medical needs at home.
- Ask us how we will protect floors and furniture, and what wall repair is included.
PEX Repiping in Denver, CO
Professional Plumbers Denver replaces supply lines in Denver homes, from older houses with original galvanized or polybutylene piping to newer ones with failing copper. We look at the whole house first: pipe material, pressure, water heater connections, shutoff valves and fixtures. Then we explain whether a repipe, a partial repipe or a repair makes sense. For an overview of our repiping work, see our repiping services page.
Repipes are permitted and inspected work in Denver, and the permit is required for whole-home projects. We follow the code and manufacturer instructions for fittings and connections.
What Affects the Cost of a PEX Repipe?
We do not quote prices without seeing the house. The main factors:
- The size of the home and the number of bathrooms and fixtures
- How easy it is to reach the pipes through walls, ceilings, crawl spaces or slabs
- Single-story or multi-story layout
- The type of pipe being replaced and its condition
- The wall and ceiling repairs needed afterward
- Permit and inspection requirements
- The water heater, shutoff valves and any fixtures you want replaced at the same time
Tell us about your home and we will give you an estimate.
Areas We Serve Around Denver
We provide plumbing service in Denver and nearby communities, including Aurora, Lakewood, Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Glendale and Greenwood Village. See our service areas page or call us if you are not sure we cover your address.
Frequently Asked Questions About PEX Repiping
How much does PEX repiping cost in Denver?
It depends on the size of the house, the number of fixtures, how easy the pipes are to reach and how much wall repair is needed. We give an estimate after we see the home.
How long does a PEX repipe take?
A whole-home repipe typically takes one to three days, depending on the size of the house and the access. Water is usually restored at the end of each day.
Can I stay in my house during a repipe?
Usually yes, but the water is off for part of each day and some rooms will have open walls. Plan for limited water at times.
Is PEX allowed in Denver?
PEX is widely accepted for residential water supply under model plumbing codes, and we install it to the requirements that apply to your address and have it inspected.
Do I need a permit to repipe in Denver?
Whole-home repipes require a permit and an inspection. We handle both as part of the job.
How long does PEX last?
PEX is expected to last for decades when it is installed correctly and protected from sunlight. Our page cites 40 to 50 years or more, which is an estimate and not a warranty.
Is PEX safe for drinking water?
Certified PEX meets NSF/ANSI standards for potable water. Check that the tubing is marked with that certification, and use reputable brands installed by a licensed plumber.
Can PEX be used outdoors or in sunlight?
Not unprotected. Ultraviolet light degrades PEX, so exposed or exterior runs need sleeving or a different material.
Should I replace polybutylene pipe?
In most cases yes. Polybutylene is a known failure risk, and it is one of the strongest reasons to repipe before a leak happens. See our polybutylene replacement cost guide.
Will repiping increase my home’s value?
It can remove a common objection for buyers and show up well in inspections, but we can’t promise a specific return. New, permitted plumbing is easier to sell than failing pipe.
Contact Professional Plumbers Denver
If you are thinking about a repipe, tell us what you are seeing and how old the house is. Call (720) 390-2652 to talk about PEX repiping in Denver, or request an estimate through our contact page.
Professional Plumbers Denver, 4400 S Quebec St, Suite 208, Denver, CO 80237.
