A condo repipe that replaces just your unit's water lines with PEX plastic pipe costs roughly $3,400 to $6,300 for an 800 sq ft unit with one bathroom, and the job usually wraps up within a few days. Your building's rules decide who foots the bill, because responsibility for pipes is usually split between the association and you. - Condo with 1 bath, 800 sq ft: about $3,400 to $6,300 - How long a small unit takes: 2 to 3 days - Permit fee, per a national guide: $50 to $800 - Who pays: whatever your association's documents say
Condo repipe cost by unit size
These are this site's estimates for one unit's own water lines in PEX, a bendable plastic pipe that's typically red for hot water and blue for cold, based on the average US plumber's wage. Your own price could be higher or lower depending on where you live.
| Baths | Square feet | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 800 | about $3,400 to $6,300 |
| 1 | 1,000 | about $3,800 to $7,000 |
| 2 | 1,200 | about $5,400 to $9,700 |
The final price comes from a repipe company after it sees your unit. If you'd like one, our phone line connects you to a company in your area at no charge.
Which pipes does each side cover?
In a typical condo building, piping duties are divided between the association and each owner. Check your CC&Rs and bylaws before booking work: they set out pipe responsibilities, though some in-unit plumbing may still be unclear.
The pipes that serve more than one unit are usually the association's:
- Risers, the vertical pipes running floor to floor that feed multiple units
- The main lines feeding the building
- Drains used in common
- Sprinkler piping for fire protection
The pipes that serve only your unit are usually yours. That covers the fittings at each fixture, the supply lines running to toilets and sinks, and the branch pipes feeding your kitchen and bathrooms. Your documents have the final word.
Does my association handle any of this?
The paperwork isn't always clear about in-unit plumbing and water heaters. So it's smart to read the documents before a repipe and learn exactly what falls on you and what the association handles.
Repipe firms handle both scenarios. Some owners do one unit on their own, while some associations redo every building at the same time. A complex-wide project includes a schedule plus a map showing the planned work in each resident's unit.
Repiping an apartment or commercial building
For a full apartment or condo building, the contractor prices the project directly. Online quote tools only work for single-family homes, so square footage alone won't get you a number.
Age plays a role. One repipe firm estimates that over half of the country's apartment and condo stock is 30 years old or more.
Buildings typically fund the job one of these ways:
- Reserves, money set aside each year in the budget
- An association loan
- A special assessment, a one-time charge divided among owners
- A refinance, which apartment buildings sometimes use for this
Repiping a mobile home
Mobile homes are often replumbed by the fixture: about $600 to $1,600 each, and about $1,000 for an average job, according to Angi. The water lines usually run through the floor, so budget $7 to $30 per sq ft for floor repair. PEX is the usual choice because it handles freezing better. If the home was built from 1978 to 1995, look for polybutylene, a gray plastic pipe made in those years (InterNACHI). With polybutylene or galvanized steel, Angi advises replacing the whole system. Check which pipe you have.
Questions people ask
Does a pipe inside my condo always belong to me?
Not necessarily. What the pipe serves matters more than where it sits. A pipe in your wall that feeds several units may fall to the association, even though it's within your unit.
Can I use a house repipe estimate for my condo?
Not really. A house estimate covers a whole home's plumbing, while you're usually only paying for the lines that serve your unit, so use the condo prices on this page. For a whole-building repipe, the contractor prices the project directly.
Do prices vary by state?
They do, since plumbers earn different wages depending on the state. For example, this site's estimate for a 1,800 sq ft, one-story, 2-bath house in PEX over a crawl space runs roughly $5,400 to $9,900 if the job is in Florida, and closer to $7,400 to $13,700 up in Washington.
How can I tell whether my pipes are polybutylene?
Polybutylene pipe was used from about 1978 to 1995, so if your unit was plumbed in those years, it's worth checking. Our pipe identifier can help you tell it from seven other pipe types by color and feel.