Replacing Plumbing, Sewer Lines, or Electrical Components

Replacing Plumbing

Plumbing problems can range from simple and inexpensive (i.e. replacing fixtures) to more complicated and expensive work. Many homes these days require refurnishing or replacing plumbing lines and connections inside the walls that may require the removal of portions of your walls for access. Your plumber will be a source of expert consultation and will be able to provide you with a better estimate.

To hire a plumber, ask your neighbors and co-workers for references, or go online to find highly-reviewed professionals. When you talk to a prospective plumbing contractors, be sure to outline your problems - or what you think may be the problem - and give the plumber an opportunity to come by and see your home. This is because what may appear to be a minor problem often is symptomatic of a larger, systemic issue with your home's plumbing.

As stated, the materials required, cost of the service, and time required for plumbing problems all will vary. For a simple pipe leak, for example, a plumber may only take 30 minutes to an hour to fit a simple compression or soldered fitting to the pipe, and may only charge up to $100-200 in most places. For a complete renovation of a bathroom, such a project could take a week and cost a few thousand dollars. A toilet, for example, can cost anywhere from $150 to $300; a bathtub is $300 to $600. Older homes with original copper piping that have owners who want to replace the copper with PVC or other material are looking at a project that could take 2-3 weeks and cost well over $10,000, once you factor in drywall repair, painting, and other costs in addition to the plumber's labor and materials.

Replacing Sewer Lines

Plumbing is not the only area of concern for a home these days, particularly older homes. Many fixer upper homes have to have sewer lines repaired or completed replaced due to neglect, damage, or age. The vast majority of plumbers also work on sewer lines, although it is possible to find specialists who focus primarily on that area of work. (Of these, Roto-Rooters is perhaps the most well-known company.) Sewer lines carry waste from your home to the community's sewage system, and consist of pipes constructed mainly from either clay (especially with older homes), cast iron, PVC/CPVC, or other materials like Orangeburg. This last material in particular is common with older homes and needs to be replaced if discovered in your home. As with Orangeburg, each material has its advantages and disadvantages that your plumber can explain to you.

When you contact plumbing contractors for sewer line problems, you are probably reporting symptoms that mostly likely stem from clogged or ruptured lines, such as stopped toilets or waste seepage in the yard. A plumber or specialist will often examine the line with a camera to see if waste objects or tree roots are clogging up the line. If appropriate, they will then see if it can be cleared; if not, a sewer line replacement may be in order. Sewer line replacement may also be appropriate if your home has older, less effective/durable line materials, such as Orangeburg or clay; switching to ABS or PVC is the choice for many homeowners today.

Cost for these projects vary, but typically, an inspection of your sewer lines with a diagnostic camera will cost anywhere from $75 to $300 or more. Some plumbing problems can be fixed relatively inexpensively by replacing only a section of pipe or patching the pipe, but sewer line replacement is often necessary in some fixer upper homes that are older or have been particularly neglected and can cost anywhere from $25 to $75 per foot. This could be $2,500 to $10,000 and more for the entire system and could take a weekend to the better part of a week.

Replacing Electrical Components

Plumbing problems are common and plumbing contractors are frequent visitors to fixer upper homes. Electricians are also popular with fixer-upper owners because electrical components often are some of the first pieces to go bad as a consequence of neglect or vandalism. As far as cost and length of time go, these types of projects are not as severe as major plumbing or other restorative projects. But, many projects involving electronic parts require the special skill of an electrician and aren't recommended for self-repair.

These days, the wide variety of electrical components that exist in a typical American home requires a professional consultation when a major renovation project is involved. The most well-known component is the electrical service panel, which contains the circuit breakers (or fuses) that control power to the home. Your home may have sub-panels that feed power to additional parts of the home or property. Your home will also have electrical wiring to carry the power throughout your walls, plus electrical fixtures, outdoor connections, branch circuits, and other electrical components.

Most repair projects do not cost a lot of money, relatively speaking; most electrical component suppliers provide individual fuses for a few dollars. Replacing entire components, like an electrical service panel, or replacing a fuse box with an electrical service panel with circuit breakers is a more expensive and more technical job that could cost $1,000-$2,000 or more and take a full day or two. Since it is recommended to have circuit breaker electrical service panels over fuse boxes, hiring an electrician to do the job safely and properly is the way to go. If you have an older home, mention this to your prospective electrician when you make the first calls and find one who has experienced with this type of work.

In any of these areas, call a wide range of professionals and seek recommendations from your co-workers, family members, and friends. Get free evaluations and price estimates whenever possible, and always seek out professionals who have experience with your particular type of fixer upper home. And as always, finding pros who have worked extensively with fixer upper homes or do so on a regular basis is highly recommended.