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Repiping your Entire House in London

Repiping your Entire House in London

Everyone depends on the pipes in their home to be in good order because without them there would be trouble with everyday activities like: washing dishes and clothes, showering and of course, using the bathroom. Whenever various plumbing issues appear with these common household objects and places, you can address to our plumber in London

How can I find a plumber near me?

With many years of experience working in homes, our plumbers in London have the knowledge and professionalism needed to repipe your home rapidly and securely. You can always address to our local plumbers at our phone number or e-mail address for advice on the cost to replumb a house. Our team who has experience in replumbing houses can provide you with all the options and help you identify the type of pipe that’s right for your house. There are three different types of pipes presently in use for delivering water to fixtures: copper, CPVC and PEX.

 Quick Facts  
Types of pipes used in repiping operations in London 

• copper pipes;
• PEX pipes;
• polybutylene pipes;
• linear low-density polyethylene pipes;
• flexi hoses; 
• pipe in pipe systems.

Procedure of repiping your entire house in London 

• obtaining permissions, where required;
• deciding on the pipe types; 
• establishing the layout of the pipes; 
• taking the previous pipes out;
• installing the new pipes;
• covering the floors, walls, etc, where pipes where installed. 

Aspects to consider when choosing the most suitable pipe type 

 • the costs of the pipe; 
• the pipe type;
• the pipe type suitable for your property;
• environmental factors; 
• water acidity. 
Advantages of copper pipes 

• long lifespan;
• suitable for all types of environments; 
• resistant to corrosion;
• environmentally friendly (although not 100%);

• recyclable; 
• lightweight and thus, easy to install.  

Advantages of plastic pipes • cheaper for the end user; 
• easy to install;
• flexible; 
• cheaper manufacturing costs;
• suitable for regions with high acidity waters. 
Cost of copper pipes in London  Minimum GBP 3-10 per meter, depending on the type of copper pipe. 

 

Cost of plastic pipes  Repiping your entire house in London with plastic pipes can cost minimum GBP 1 per meter. 

 

Disadvantages of copper pipes  They are more expensive and may corrode in regions with untreated water that has a high acidity level. 
Disadvantages of plastic pipes Not environmentally friendly.  
Pipes suitable for houses outside municipal areas  Plastic pipes 
When it is recommended to change the pipe system  • the pipes are too old; 
• they are leaking frequently; 
• they need constant maintenance.
Authorization for repiping your entire house in London (yes/no)  Yes – it is necessary for old buildings. 
Evaluating repiping costs – basic aspects to be taken into consideration  • the types of pipes to be used; 
• the costs per meter;
• the materials needed in the construction/reconstructions of the floors or walls;
• protecting/reinforcing the structure of the building;
• the fees of the plumbers, etc.  
Pipes with environmental advantages  Copper pipes 
Ways in which our plumber in London can help in repiping projects • help you select the most suitable pipes; 
• advise on the best approach for replumbing the property;
• provide a team of plumbers, for large replumbing projects. 

What repiping the whole house means

Repiping or replumbing a home is just what it sounds like, meaning you take out all the old water pipes and put brand new ones back in their place. Firmly speaking, it isn’t something home and business owners are ever meant to have to do on their own and this happens because something breaks down. 

In this situation, our plumbers in London can and will offer the best plumbing services, with fixed prices according to the market. In case you are interested in replumbing your house, you can send us a detailed email and we will answer as soon as possible with a personalized offer and information on the cost to replumb a house

How to choose the best pipe material in 2021 for your home in London

Copper represents one of the most common plumbing pipe materials that is used in this industry, as it was the original material that was used for this purpose. Copper has multiple advantages, one of them being that it lasts for a long period of time. 

Provided that the copper pipe carries only water and not any other small, residual materials that can enter a pipe, copper maintains its quality for a longer period of time, which can translate to decades or even centuries, and a plumber in London is not required to change the pipe. However, copper is becoming progressively expensive and chemical enterprises are always trying to come up with new ways to use plastics.

Many years ago, a foreign chemical company invented a plastic pipe for supplying water to fittings in houses and it was made from polybutylene and grey colored branded as Quest pipe. Initially it seemed to be a sustainable alternative to copper, it was low-priced and more flexible, thus easier to install. However, it started to break in the presence of chlorine, a substance present in all municipal water supplies

Why choose copper pipes for your repiping project in London? 

Above, we have presented the main types of pipes that can be used when you want to start a repiping project for your home in London. The decision to select one of the above mentioned can be influenced by a set of factors – the overall cost to replumb a house, the ability of the plumber in London to work with a type of pipe or another, depending on the expertise the person has gathered over the years, personal preferences of the homeowner and numerous other. Environmental factors can also be part of the decision making process.

Given that there are numerous factors that have to be taken into consideration in this case, our plumbers in London have prepared a presentation that should make matters more clear for any person who wants to repipe a house. Below, you can find out the main advantages of selecting copper pipes for your home

  • copper pipes have a life span of approximately 50-70 years, which means that you will not need to worry about replacing the piping system any time soon, once you have started the project;
  • more importantly, they are ideal for any type of climate – they have outstanding qualities that make them suitable for hot environments, as well as for regions with a cold climate;
  • they are also resistant to corrosion, and this is a very important aspect, as copper pipes are used for your water system;
  • an additional, and very important advantage, is that the copper pipe does not contaminate the water, compared to other types of materials that can be used for pipes;
  • also, they are recyclable materials, and they can also be installed outside, not only in the ground or in walls;
  • an advantage that is appreciated by plumbers in London is that the copper pipes are lightweight, which means that the plumber will be able to install them very easy, compared to other pipes which are heavier. 

Besides the advantages that we have presented above, you should know that copper pipes present additional benefits; if you are worried on the environmental impact of your day-to-day life in your household and are interested in reducing the harmful impact of modern living, you should know that the copper pipes are the least harmful material that you can choose in this case.  

Although not 100% environmental friendly, copper pipes release far less chemicals or emissions compared to plastic pipesour plumber in London can present the ways in which plastic pipes can release various chemicals into the water. However, although copper pipes have an extensive list of advantages, as presented here, you should also know that they do present certain disadvantages, one of them being the financial aspect as they cost more and they can increase the cost to replumb a house

Since the manufacturing of other types of pipes implies lower costs compared to the manufacture of copper pipesplastic pipes are cheaper and have become the standard when building a new construction site, but also for other types of projects, such as repiping an entire house in London

It has also been observed that those who have copper pipes in their home have reported that water has a metallic taste, although the taste is definitely not intense, but some homeowners will avoid this type of pipe for this very reason. Also, it is compulsory to connect your copper pipe to the sanitary municipal water system, which contains water that was treated to meet specific standards. 

If you connect the copper pipes to other water sources, such as wells, you may deal with certain issues in few years, as the water outside the municipal water system is a water with high acidic levels. Thus, if you want to repipe an entire house which is in a small village that does not have a connected water system that is treated with certain substances, you will most likely not be able to use copper pipes.  

If you want to repipe an entire house in Londoncopper pipes can be an ideal solution, if you are willing to invest a larger sum of money or if you consider that other small disadvantages the copper pipes have are not of importance to you. However, you can receive consultancy services from our plumber in London on this issue, if you are not sure which is the best solution for your home. 

You can request more information on the advantages of other types of pipes from our plumbers in London; our team will help you decide on a solution that is most convenient to your particular situation; our plumber will also estimate the time necessary for the project, and will present all the steps involved in this. 

You can watch below some of the basic aspects of repiping an entire house in London:

In these days, the most common reason owners want to repipe their entire houses is to replace polybutylene pipe, the plastic pipes. If you have experienced any recent issues, you can call our emergency plumber in London, who is ready to assist you with professional services at any hour of the day. 

Our plumbers in London will always offer the proper materials in the field knowing the importance of a good and consistent water system, so copper will be the excellent choice for supplying water to the fixtures in everyone’s home. If you are interested in replumbing your house, you can rely on our team of local plumbers.

What is the current situation of the piping system in London?

Being one of the oldest cities in the world, London has implemented a piping system to accommodate the needs of a growing population long time ago. The modern water supply system can be traced back to 1920s and, although numerous pipes were changed since then, the overall water system is still considered old and outdated, given the large size of the city. Current issues of the water system in London relate to the following:

  • between 2015 and February 2019, the city of London accounted for 26,082 burst pipes, as a consequence of the large volume of water consumption and old piping systems;
  • it is estimated that a person in London uses 149 liters of water per day, which represents an increase of 5% compared to the national average;
  • water companies in the UK own 346,455 km of water pipes and it is estimated that between April 2019 and April 2020, approximately 2,954 million litres of water leaked each day at a national level;
  • 65% of the water running through London is pumped from rivers, while 35% is extracted from aquifers;
  • in order to make sure that the water running through the London piping system is safe, which is still partly made out of Victorian cast iron, 500,000 samples of water are taken each year, which must conform with the regulations of the Drinking Water Inspectorate

When is it your responsibility to call a plumber in London?

As a general rule, a private entity, be it a natural person or a legal entity, has to call a plumber in London in an emergency case if the said pipes are located on the property of the respective private entity. That means that if you own an apartment and your pipes are leaking, you must address to an emergency plumber in London. If you simply consider that the pipes are too old and need to be changed, the same will apply. 

If a problem appears on the piping system in common spaces, such as hallways, you do not have the obligation to address to a local plumber. If you live in a house, you have to make the necessary arrangements for any piping issue regarding the pipes in your house, as well as the ones in your front yard or back yard. However, in the case in which the plumbing issue appears outside your property, you are not responsible for the said situation. 

The most you can do is to call the plumbing company which is in charge with the respective portion of the pipes, if the company is not aware by the water leakage. However, any financial aspects related to this matter will not fall under your responsibility.  

What should you take into consideration when repiping a house in London?

Repiping the entire house in London can have multiple challenges, depending on how old the house is and what its current piping system is made of. Numerous houses still do no have a modern heating system. Homeowners nowadays are interested in implementing a modern central heating system and a piping system that can cover the needs of a family. 

When starting the repiping project, you should take into consideration the characteristics of the house, which should not be damaged, especially if we refer to an old house, as its basic features should always be maintained. Then, you should discuss with your plumber in London on whether the current layout of the piping system is an efficient one or whether it should be modified for a greater efficiency. 

Modifications of the piping systems may also be needed when the owner wants to modify the purpose of a room, or when he or she considers that specific rooms, such as bathrooms or kitchens, should have certain objects relocated (such as changing the place of the bathtub, the washing machine, the water tap and so on). 

In certain cases, some homes may not have a suitable bathroom, when analyzed from the modern ways of what a bathroom should be (numerous houses can have only a toilet and a sink, without a shower or a bathtub, for instance), in which case, another room can be repurposed as a bathroom. 

Please be aware that the process of repiping your entire house in London may need the authorization of a conservation officer, but this depends on the period of time in which the house was built. This can also mean that you may not be able to modify the entire house in accordance to your wishes and this is why is always highly recommended to request information from our plumber in London, who can easily tell you what types of plumbing services can be offered to a specific type of property.  

How much does it cost to repipe the house water supply system in London in 2021?

plumber in London can offer an accurate valuation of work required and prices for your plan, before taking any decisions or making any promises. The cost approximation contains: costs to prepare the worksite for house replumbing, including costs to protect current structure, surfaces, materials and constituents and work and mobilization time are normally included for small house repiping jobs.

Please mind that the costs for repiping the entire house in London can vary from one year to another, and they can also be influenced by the materials that you have selected. Moreover, various construction works that may need to be completed in your home during the process of repiping the entire house can increase the overall costs and this why, if you need to complete this activity in 2021, the total cost may also be influenced by the volatile market conditions occurring after the pandemic.

This also includes costs for job cleanup and debris elimination and costs for local material and equipment transportation. If you want to repipe your entire house and need to know the exact costs involved, don’t hesitate to contact our plumbers in London. Depending on the characteristics of your house and of your current plumbing system we will send you a customized offer. 

If you want to repipe a house, it is highly advisable to first request a price estimator from our team. Our plumbers will make sure that they will take into consideration all aspects.

If you live in an old building, the costs can be higher compared to the repiping of a regular house, as old houses need certain approvals and they can’t be structurally modified, in certain situations.

In the case you want to start a repiping project for a room or for the entire property, you can request our services for plumbing in Ilford, if you live in this part of London or if you carry out a business activity.

Our plumbers located in Ilford can provide their services to both residential and commercial clients (for the latter, it is usually necessary to bring a team of plumbers).