Professional Installation vs. Do-It-Yourself

If you are like a lot of guys out there, you like to do the lion's share of your home improvement projects yourself. Not only do you save money, but you get to feel proud of the work you have put into your home. If you are pretty handy around the house, you can probably do a cooper repiping install yourself. There are times however, when hiring an experienced repiping installer can save you a lot of time, and in some cases a lot of money.

Professional Installation

Let's face it. Professional plumbers, especially those that specialize in copper repiping, can get the job done quickly. In most cases they don't have any problems with leaks after all is said and done. Years of experience has taught them how to do cooper repiping correctly, and more importantly, how not to do it. Simply put, they are likely to be very efficient; not only in how long it takes them (they get paid the same no matter how long it takes) but in how much copper piping material is actually wasted.

Aside from having a wealth of knowledge and experience, professional copper repiping contractors also carry a license, and more importantly, they are bonded. They are held to a higher professional standard that private homeowners are not, so if they make a mistake and it causes further damage, i.e. flooding, then their bond will cover the cost of repairs.

Do-It-Yourself

This is where it really gets interesting. Home improvement projects such as copper repiping can be a tax on your time and your wallet, not to mention your sanity. If you are reasonably good with your hands and are good at solving puzzles, then a do-it-yourself repiping project may be for you. That being said, if you are skittish about small, enclosed spaces or have a thing against working with torches then you may want to reconsider hiring a professional.

You should be aware that it might take you several solid days to repipe the entire house. Unlike a professional who has already made and learned from his mistakes, you may be in for a game of trial-and-error, which will inevitably slow you down. Make sure you take your time and think through everything you are going to do before you do it. We advise that you work your way backwards, starting with connections to sinks, toilets and showers first, instead of starting from the main line. This way you can still use some of the existing plumbing in between project days.

Bone up on your soldering skills before you remove a single old pipe. Do a couple practice joints before you go to town on the house. To make life a little easier, you can probably solder at least half of the joints out in the open, only soldering what you have to in “situ”. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you get into a jamb; it is always better to get professional help instead of making a bad situation worse.

All in all, it's really up to you whether or not you hire a professional copper repiping expert. It all depends on your personal comfort level and whether or not you have the time.