How long does a whole-home repipe from galvanized to PEX usually take?
Short answer
A whole-home repipe from galvanized steel to PEX tubing takes two to five working days of active plumbing work, plus one to two additional days for drywall repair and painting. For a standard 2,000-square-foot home with two bathrooms, the installation requires 40 to 60 labor hours. Technicians route flexible piping through existing access points, replace corroded lines, test water pressure, and flush the system.
A standard whole-home repipe from galvanized steel to PEX tubing typically takes two to five working days for active plumbing rough-in, followed by one to two additional days for drywall patching and painting.
Aging galvanized steel lines suffer from internal tuberculation, drop static water pressure below 30 PSI, and frequently leak after exceeding their 40-to-50-year service life. Replacing them with cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) resolves corrosion and reduces install labor compared to rigid copper. According to 2024 RSMeans construction data, residential domestic water repiping averages 40 to 60 total labor hours for a standard 2,000-square-foot, two-bathroom home.
If you only do one thing: Map your main distribution trunk and homerun branch layout before cutting drywall to keep line runs direct and limit structural wall penetrations.
- Site staging and isolation (Day 1, morning): Technicians protect flooring with drop cloths, locate the main water shutoff valve, isolate system zones, and plan PEX tubing pathways through crawlspaces, basements, or attic chases.
- Access cuts and pipe routing (Days 1–2): Crews open drywall inspection ports (typically 6x6 inches to 12x12 inches) at fixture drops and pull continuous coils of PEX-a or PEX-b from the main water entry to individual fixtures.
- Fixture connections and valving (Days 2–3): Installers disconnect the corroded galvanized lines, mount PEX runs using suspension clamps spaced every 32 inches horizontally, and install new quarter-turn brass ball valves and supply stops at every fixture.
- Pressure testing and municipal inspection (Day 3 or 4): The rough assembly undergoes hydrostatic testing at 100 PSI for at least 15 minutes in accordance with International Plumbing Code (IPC) standards to verify fitting integrity before building inspection sign-off.
- System flushing and wall restoration (Days 4–5): Technicians tie in the main supply, flush all branch lines with aerators removed to purge residual sediment, and hand off access openings for drywall patching, mudding, and texture matching.
- Watch out for: Leaving sections of underground galvanized service pipe between the city meter and the house, which introduces heavy rust flakes into new PEX manifolds and clogs fixture cartridges.
- Watch out for: Exceeding the maximum support spacing of 32 inches on horizontal runs or failing to allow slack for thermal expansion (approximately 1 inch per 100 feet per 10°F temperature change), leading to stress on crimp and expansion fittings.
- Watch out for: Violating the minimum bend radius of six times the outer pipe diameter, which kinks the PEX wall and permanently restricts dynamic flow rate.
Schedule an onsite plumbing inspection to calculate your total Water Supply Fixture Units (WSFU) and inspect crawlspace or attic clearance before finalizing your pipe sizing schedule. Call ARS/Rescue Rooter at 866-399-2885 to book a whole-home repiping assessment.