Repiping a house usually costs between $1,500 and $15,000, with most homeowners paying around $7,500. Your final price depends on home size, pipe material, and fixture count.
Worn pipes give plenty of warning before they go. First they corrode, then they leak, and soon your water pressure drops to a trickle. Many homes across the Greater Toronto Area were built decades ago, so dated supply lines show up constantly.
Repiping replaces those failing pipes with a fresh system that delivers clean, steady water. The cost feels large at first glance. Still, it usually beats years of repeat repairs and water damage. Read on for real numbers, the factors behind them, and smart ways to save.
How Much Does It Cost to Repipe a House?
The cost to repipe a house ranges from $1,500 to $15,000, and most homeowners spend close to $7,500. Smaller bungalows sit at the low end, while large multi-storey homes climb higher.
Labour takes the biggest bite, then material and fixture count fill in the rest. You can expect to spend $0.40 to $8 per linear foot on the piping, depending on the type, with copper on the higher end and labour an additional $1 to $4 per linear foot.
So a single-fixture fix runs a few hundred dollars, but a whole-home repipe reaches into the thousands. Once you know that split, every quote makes more sense.
For a fast ballpark before you call, our plumbing cost calculator gives you a starting figure in minutes.
House Repiping Cost Per Square Foot
Square footage shapes the price because more space means more pipe and longer runs. Plumbers often estimate whole-home jobs this way. The bigger the floor plan, the higher the total.
| Home Size (sq ft) | Cost Per Sq Ft (CAD)* | Estimated Total (CAD)* |
| Under 1,000 | $4.50 – $9.00 | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| 1,000 – 1,500 | $4.50 – $10.00 | $4,500 – $9,000 |
| 1,500 – 2,500 | $5.00 – $11.00 | $6,500 – $13,000 |
| 2,500+ | $5.00 – $12.00 | $10,000 – $20,000+ |
House Repiping Cost by Home Size
Home size and bathroom count work together to set your final cost. A two-storey home needs vertical runs between floors, which adds pipe and labour hours. More bathrooms also mean more fixtures to connect, so a compact bungalow costs less than a sprawling family home.
Homes with several washrooms often call for an expert bathroom plumbing services alongside the repipe.
| Home Type | Typical Fixtures | Estimated Cost (CAD)* |
| 1-bathroom bungalow | 6 – 8 | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| 2-bathroom home | 9 – 12 | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| 3-bathroom, 2-storey | 12 – 16 | $8,000 – $15,000 |
| Large custom home | 16+ | $12,000 – $22,000+ |
House Repiping Cost by Pipe Material
Pipe material is the single biggest cost lever in any repipe. PEX is the affordable modern standard. Copper costs the most but lasts longest. CPVC sits in the middle, while old materials like galvanized, lead, and polybutylene need full replacement. Your pick changes both material and labour costs.
| Material | Cost Per Linear Foot (CAD)* | Lifespan | Notes |
| PEX | $0.50 – $2.50 | 50 – 100+ yrs | Flexible, freeze-resistant, fast to install |
| Copper | $2.50 – $10.00 | 70+ yrs | Durable, boosts resale, needs soldering |
| CPVC | $0.50 – $1.50 | 50 – 75 yrs | Budget hot/cold lines, more fittings |
| PVC | $0.50 – $2.00 | 25 – 40 yrs | Drain and waste lines, not pressure supply |
| Galvanized steel | Replace only | — | Corrodes, rusts water, common pre-1960 |
| Lead | Replace only | — | Toxic, found in pre-1955 service lines |
| Polybutylene | Replace only | — | Cracks and leaks, banned in the 1990s |
Note:
PEX wins most jobs because it installs fast and resists freezing, which matters through our winters. Meanwhile, copper keeps its edge on resale value. By contrast, galvanized, lead, and polybutylene cannot be repaired; crews must pull them out entirely. PEX repiping costs 40 to 60% less than copper, with a 50-plus year lifespan, while copper lasts 70-plus years.
If your home still runs on aging galvanized or lead lines, our team handles full whole-home repiping in GTA with code-approved materials.
Read More: Tankless Water Heater Installation Cost in Toronto and the GTA (2026 Guide)
Major Factors That May Influence the Cost to Repipe a House
Several factors decide where your quote lands, and a plumber weighs each during an on-site inspection. Some you control, like material choice. Others, like home age, you inherit. Here’s how each one moves your number, with the cost differences spelled out.
Number of Bathrooms and Fixtures
Every sink, toilet, shower, and appliance is a connection point that needs fresh pipe and fittings. Therefore, a two-bathroom home often costs $5,000 to $10,000, whereas a four-bathroom home can push past $15,000.
Wall and Floor Accessibility
Crews must reach pipes hidden behind drywall and under floors. Open basements stay cheap to work in. However, finished walls or tiled bathrooms lift labour by 25 to 50%, since the team cuts first, then patches afterward.
Labor Costs in Your Area
Skilled trades carry most of the bill, roughly 70% of your total. In Ontario, licensed plumbers charge about $60 to $200 per hour. Consequently, a longer job with awkward access adds hundreds in labour alone.
Age of the Home
Older homes often hide galvanized steel or lead pipes that corrode and complicate the work. Because crews must strip out brittle, rusted runs first, these jobs cost 10 to 20% more than a clean PEX swap.
Plumbing System Condition
Heavily corroded pipes, seized valves, and rusted fittings slow everything down. Worse, a failing run sometimes hides water damage behind the wall. So poor condition means more labour hours and a higher quote.
Permit Requirements
Toronto requires permits for most repiping, and they protect you by keeping the job code-compliant. City plumbing permits start at $205, and backwater valve permits at $121. Skip them, and you risk fines plus failed home inspections later.
Diameter of Piping
Wider pipe costs more per foot and moves more water. Homes with three or more bathrooms often need a larger main supply line. That upgrade adds material cost, yet it keeps strong pressure on every floor.
Accessibility (Crawl Spaces and Tight Runs)
Cramped crawl spaces, low ceilings, and packed mechanical rooms slow a crew to a crawl. As a result, awkward layouts can add several hundred dollars versus an open, easy-to-reach system.
Soil Conditions
Outdoor water line work depends on what sits buried in your yard. Rocky, clay-heavy, or deep soil drives excavation costs up fast. Fortunately, our trenchless and directional drilling crews cut the digging and spare your lawn and driveway.
Read More: How Long Does Pipe Lining Last? Factors & Maintenance Tips
Signs You Need to Repipe Your House
Your plumbing usually warns you before it quits. Catch these signs early, and you sidestep a flooded basement and an emergency bill. Watch for the following:
- Rusty, brown, or discoloured water from your taps
- A metallic taste in your drinking water
- Low or uneven pressure, worst on the upper floors
- Repeat leaks cropping up in different spots
- Visible rust, flaking, or corrosion on exposed pipes
- Galvanized or lead pipes in a pre-1960s home
Spot two or more? Then book an inspection before a small drip turns into a burst.
How Long Does It Take to Repipe a House?
Most whole-house repipes take three to five days. Larger or multi-storey homes can take up to a week.
The exact time depends on your home’s size, bathroom count, and how easy the pipes are to reach. A one-bathroom bungalow may finish in two days. A four-bathroom, two-storey home needs more, because crews run new lines between floors.
In most cases, the water is only turned off during the day, from 8 AM to 5 PM, and restored in the evening, so you can stay in your home during the process.
Crews cut small access holes in the drywall to reach the lines, then close them after the new pipes pass city inspection. Set aside one to two days afterward for patching and paint
Is House Repiping Worth the Cost?
Yes, repiping pays off once leaks start repeating across your plumbing system.
Each emergency leak repair costs $200 to $400. Two or three repairs a year quickly passes $1,000, and the corroded pipes keep failing underneath. A full repipe replaces every supply line at once and installs a system rated for 40 to 50 years. It also restores steady water pressure and clears rusty, discoloured water for good.
On older homes, new piping can add $10,000 or more to resale value. Before you decide between a single repair and a full repipe, our pipe repair specialists inspect your lines and tell you which option your home needs.
Read More: How to Clean a Shower Drain Step by Step (DIY Methods That Work)
How to Save Money on House Repiping
You can trim the bill without cutting corners, and a little planning goes a long way. Try these proven moves:
- Choose PEX over copper to cut material and labour costs by up to 60%
- Bundle repiping with a renovation while the walls sit open
- Schedule before winter to avoid emergency burst-pipe rates
- Collect at least three written, itemized quotes
- Combine indoor work with a water line upgrade in one trench
- Confirm whether the quote includes permits and 13% HST
Repiping Older Homes in the Greater Toronto Area
The cost to repipe a house runs $1,500 to $15,000, based on your home’s size, pipe material, and access. Many Toronto and Oakville homes built before 1960 still carry galvanized or lead lines that corrode and drop water pressure.
Replace them before winter, when freezing temperatures crack weakened pipes. For a firm, up-front quote, call Anta Plumbing at 416-231-3331 and book a free inspection across the Greater Toronto Area.
Read More: How Does a Sump Pump Work? Parts, Types and Maintenance Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to repipe my house in Toronto?
Yes. Most repiping needs a city plumbing permit, starting at $205. A licensed plumber pulls it for you, keeping the work code-compliant and your home inspection clean.
Do I have to move out during a repipe?
No. You can stay home throughout. Plumbers shut the water off only during work hours, then restore it each evening, so your evenings stay normal and comfortable.
Does repiping increase my home’s value?
Yes. New lead-free PEX or copper piping reassures buyers, eases insurance approval, and prevents water damage. Most homeowners recover much of the cost at resale, especially on older GTA homes.
How often should a house be repiped?
Rarely. Copper lasts 70-plus years and PEX 50 or more. Most homes need repiping just once, usually when galvanized or lead pipes finally wear out.
Should I repair a leaking pipe or repipe the whole house?
Repair one isolated leak. But when leaks keep returning across different fixtures, that pattern signals system-wide failure, and a full repipe costs less than endless patch jobs.
