Whole-House Repiping in Fort Myers

If you’re patching leak after leak, or your home still has polybutylene or galvanized pipe, a repipe replaces the whole supply system at once. Here’s what to know before you get quotes.

Signs your home may need repiping

• Polybutylene pipe: grey (sometimes blue or black) flexible plastic supply pipe, common in homes built from roughly the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. It’s known to fail without warning, and some insurers are reluctant to cover homes that still have it.
• Galvanized steel: found in older homes, it corrodes inside, restricting flow and causing rusty water.
• Repeated pinhole leaks in copper: can be related to water chemistry, age or installation issues. Once they start appearing in several places, more usually follow.
• More than one slab leak within a few years
• Low pressure or discolored water throughout the house

PEX or copper?

PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is flexible, resists scale and corrosion, has fewer joints and costs less to install. It can usually be run through attics and walls with small openings. It’s the most common choice for Florida repipes today. Keep it out of direct sunlight.

Copper is durable and well proven, and some buyers prefer it. It costs more and, depending on water chemistry, can still develop pinhole leaks over time.

A good plumber will explain which they recommend for your home and why, instead of pushing one option.

What a repipe involves

1. Planning: the plumber maps a new route, usually overhead through the attic in single-story slab homes, dropping down inside walls to each fixture.
2. Permit: a repipe needs a plumbing permit from the City of Fort Myers, Lee County, or your own city.
3. Installation: new lines are run and connected to each fixture, and the old lines are abandoned in place or removed. Most single-family repipes take a few days, and water is usually restored at the end of each workday.
4. Inspection and patching: after inspection, the small wall openings are patched. Ask whether drywall repair and painting are included, because quotes vary a lot on this.

Attic heat and pipe routing

Fort Myers attics get extremely hot in summer. Pipe run through the attic should be properly supported and insulated, and kept low and covered by insulation where possible. Ask your plumber how they handle attic runs and whether they’ll insulate the lines.

Insurance and resale

If you’re dealing with an insurer about polybutylene, or you’re buying or selling a home, a documented repipe with a closed permit can make the conversation easier. Keep the permit and final inspection records.

Typical price ranges by home size are in our Fort Myers plumbing cost guide.