Whole-House Galvanized Pipe Replacement Project

Our house was built decades ago and still has the original galvanized steel water supply pipes running through the basement, walls and under the floors. The pipes are heavily corroded on the inside, water pressure has dropped noticeably over the last few years, and the water sometimes comes out with a rusty tint after the system has been idle overnight. We had a plumber inspect a section of exposed pipe in the basement and he confirmed heavy internal scaling and several spots where the pipe wall is dangerously thin. We are looking for an experienced plumbing contractor to fully repipe the house, removing all of the old galvanized steel lines and replacing them with new copper or PEX piping, whichever the contractor recommends as the better long-term solution for our layout and budget.

The scope covers both hot and cold water supply lines to the kitchen, two full bathrooms, a laundry room and an outdoor hose bib, along with the main line coming in from the street shutoff to the water heater. We expect the work to involve opening sections of drywall and flooring to access the old runs, cutting out the corroded pipe, routing new lines through the existing chases where possible, and patching or coordinating patch work afterward. Please include a plan for minimizing water shutoff time, since we have a family living in the house during the project, and describe how you will pressure test the new system before closing up any walls.

We would like a written estimate that breaks down materials, labor, and any required permit and inspection fees separately. Photos of similar whole-house repiping projects you have completed, along with references, would be very helpful in choosing a contractor. We also need to know your typical timeline for a house of this size, roughly 2200 square feet with two stories and a finished basement, and whether you carry liability insurance and proper licensing for residential plumbing work in our area. Please avoid mentioning any specific brand names in your proposal; simply describe the pipe material and fittings you plan to use in generic terms.

Finally, we would appreciate guidance on whether the water heater connections and any old shutoff valves should be replaced as part of this project, since several of the existing valves are also original to the house and may not hold up well once the new lines are pressurized. We are flexible on scheduling and can work around a start date that suits the selected contractor, but would like the project completed within the timeframe stated in this posting.