Repiping & Whole-Home Pipe Replacement in Boca Raton, FL
If a home has had more than one pinhole leak in the last year or two, low water pressure that's always been there, or discolored water from original galvanized or aging copper lines, repiping addresses the actual cause. It fixes the system, instead of patching the same aging pipes one leak at a time.
Original copper and galvanized lines reaching end of life
Many Boca Raton homes built from the 1960s through the 1980s were plumbed in copper, which has a working life generally in the 50-70 year range depending on water chemistry and usage. That means a meaningful share of the city's original supply lines are now approaching or past that window. Older east-side homes from before that era can still have original galvanized steel, which corrodes and restricts flow from the inside well before it actually fails outright.
A key local wrinkle applies to Boca Raton's older housing stock specifically: the city's Building Department may require lead-pipe or asbestos remediation when either is discovered during plumbing work on an older home. If you're scheduling a repipe on a pre-1980s property, we flag this possibility during the estimate rather than after a wall is already open.
Condo and townhome owners face a related but different question: whether the aging line is inside your unit's own walls, or part of a shared riser serving multiple units. That changes both who's responsible for it and how the work needs to be coordinated with the building or HOA.
PEX vs. copper for a whole-home repipe
| Material | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| PEX | Lower cost, flexible for tighter spaces, resistant to the corrosion that affects metal pipe |
| Copper | Higher cost, longer track record, some homeowners prefer it for resale expectations |
Florida's plumbing code, based on the International Plumbing Code (IPC), approves both materials for residential supply lines, so the choice generally comes down to budget and personal preference rather than a code requirement favoring one over the other.
What to check first
- • Note how many leaks you've had in the last year or two, and roughly where.
- • If pressure has always been low rather than a new problem, mention that specifically.
- • Know your home's approximate build year if possible; it helps us anticipate what pipe material we're dealing with.
If your home has never had a repipe and is original to its build year, that alone is useful information even without a current active leak, since it lets us assess proactive replacement before the first pinhole leak becomes an emergency.
What changes the cost
We provide free estimates for repiping. Want your real number? Call (561) 448-8545 and describe your home's leak history.
How a whole-home repipe actually happens
New supply lines are typically run through attic space, exterior walls, or under-slab depending on the home's construction, minimizing how much drywall needs to be opened and later repaired. Old lines are capped or removed, new fixtures connections are pressure-tested before anything is closed up, and a final inspection confirms the work meets code before the permit is closed out. Most single-family repipes are completed within two to four days, though scope and home size affect that timeline.
Common questions
Multiple leaks in different spots over a short period, or persistent low pressure sitewide, both point toward a systemic issue better solved by repiping than repeated spot repairs.
Yes, PEX has a strong long-term track record and resists the corrosion that eventually affects metal pipe, though some homeowners still prefer copper for resale reasons.
Usually not entirely, though water will be shut off during active work hours and some rooms may be inaccessible while walls are open.
We pause and coordinate proper remediation before continuing, as required by the Boca Raton Building Department on qualifying older-home permits.
Ready to get an estimate? Call (561) 448-8545.
Not sure it's this serious yet?
Leak detection can confirm the actual scope before committing to a full repipe, and for a sewer or drain line specifically rather than supply lines, trenchless lining may be the more relevant comparison. Not sure which applies? Call (561) 448-8545.