Considering purchasing a beautiful old home (1910) that's in foreclosure. The problem is it has NO pipeing, all the copper has been stripped clean. Apparently thieves made away with all of it.

This is a 3 br , 2 1/2 bath home, also the furnace is "red tagged" (not sure what this means).

Were talking from the basement up for all new piping, and new furnace if needed.


Can PVC be used vice copper afer it leaves the basement?

I would like a ballpark estimate.



Thanks pete

Pete... the furnace is red tagged because gas company found a gas leak at furnace and shut it down.. OR it is a gas inspection sticker (read the tag) which is fine. If house was vandalized I would air test the entire gas system anyway... must disconnect all appliances at gas pipe unions and cap for test. Then set up test apparatus (pressure gauge, shutoff, tee fitting, 1/8" shrader valve, etc.) and test to 3lbs for 15 minutes... should do it. The gauge is a special gas gauge that has increments of 1/10 th pound pressure. BUT that should probably be left to someone with gas license... just explained so you knew what needed to be done.

Now, the copper... well.. in this case, I would pipe copper pipe off the hot water heater at least 3 feet off heater and then I would convert over to PEX piping (look up online). Then install a PEX manifold with shutoffs and run flexible pipes off to each fixture. I use the VIEGA PEX system... requires special tools... but wayyyy cheaper than copper piping in terms of cost of material AND LABOR... so it is the way to go.

I cannot begin to estimate the cost associated with this job. I mean did they rip the pipes out of the bathroom walls, too..?

Anyway, there you go... my thoughts on this post! If my answer helped please RATE THIS ANSWER by clicking on rate this answer button at top right or bottom of this post. Thank you. And do not hesitate to ask any more questions if you have any.

Great advice by Massplumber. However, I don't find anything about the drainage. A house that old sometimes has outlawed "S" traps instead of "P" traps. Also the drainage which is cast iron is almost 100 years old and the sewer line just has to be old Terra-Cotta, (city sewer or septic tank?) Before I committed to sing any documents I would have a licensed house inspector do a walk through and tell you what needs to be repoaired to bring the house up to code. Once you know what it is you have to repair you can start to get estimates. Without being on site to see for ourselves we can not give estimates. Good luck, Tom