How Much Does Rerouting a Plumbing Vent Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $900 - $3,000
The cost to reroute a plumbing vent ranges from $500 to $5,000, with a national average of $1,500. Budget for more if you expect drywall, roof, or floor repairs.
The piping of a household is a modern miracle, as it utilizes the air flowing throughout the house at any given time to keep your lines moving. A plumbing vent pipe helps keep this process going by maintaining the air pressure throughout the pipes. But if you’re remodeling a bathroom, repiping a home, or even moving a wall, you may need to reroute your plumbing vent. If you’re wondering how much it will cost to reroute plumbing for your remodeling project, the final cost of moving a plumbing vent ranges anywhere from $500 to upward of $5,000, depending on the scope of the project, if any repairs are needed, and who you hire to tackle the project.
- Average
- $1,500
- Low end
- $500
- high end
- $5,000
Rerouting a Plumbing Vent Cost Breakdown
The total cost of rerouting a plumbing vent depends on the materials used, any repairs you’ll need after the move, and overall labor costs.
Labor
There are two types of professionals you can hire to tackle this job, either a plumber or a handyperson. Hiring a local licensed plumber will cost anywhere from $45 to $200 per hour. This ensures the job is bonded and warrantied, but you may need to hire a handyperson anyway if there's drywall damage. Contact at least three plumbers for quotes so you can get the best price possible.
The average hourly cost of a handyperson is about $40 to $140 per hour if you choose to opt for a handyperson to take on this project. Not all handypersons are licensed, so warranties on work are not guaranteed. But you wouldn’t likely have to hire someone else to tackle the repairs needed to complete the job.
Repairs
Repairs may be needed if rerouting the pipes means cutting into the floor, roof, or walls. The cost to repair holes in drywall can range anywhere from $300 to $900 or more, depending on the size and severity of the holes. Hiring a handyperson to reroute the plumbing vent may mean that the drywall repair price is included in the project, rather than coming in separately.
If you’re rerouting your plumbing vent pipe on your roof, then you can expect to pay around $1,070 on average for roofing repairs. Patching up a roof requires more material to ensure Mother Nature doesn’t make a surprise visit to your living room one day.
Floor repairs will come down to the flooring material you currently have. The average cost of flooring repairs is around $400 but can range from $200 to $600.
Materials
Simple projects that only require a small PVC pipe, a little cement, and a cap will cost significantly less than a larger scope project. Small projects include rerouting an easily accessible plumbing vent underneath a sink or in a basement.
More extensive projects, such as rerouting a plumbing vent to exhaust in a different location of the home, will cause a significant price hike. This type of project includes the cost of drywall repair, roof repair, and much larger amounts of piping.
Common materials needed for this type of project include:
CPVC piping: $1 per linear foot
Pex piping: $1.15 per linear foot
Copper piping: $3 per linear foot
Primer: $10–$20 per gallon
Paint: $20–$30 per gallon
Cement: $0.25–$0.50 per pound
Flux: $5–$15 per 8 oz.
Solder: $20–$35 per 8 oz.
Permits
Doing work on the roof may require a building permit. You should ask your local municipality if this is necessary, as it varies from city to city. Minor building permits for this type of project cost anywhere from $50 to $500 on average.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Reroute a Plumbing Vent
Because of the complex nature of working with the plumbing system of your entire home, it’s best to let a local professional handle this job. If the new pipes aren’t installed correctly, your home's sewage system may start to back up and the lines can act irregularly. Of the different types of plumbing repairs, this would fall under repairing a water main and likely cost around $900 on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Constant problems with plumbing throughout the home may point toward the plumbing vent being the culprit. If a blockage or clog occurs in the plumbing vent, it can quickly lead to the entire plumbing system throughout the home failing. Tackle clogs as soon as they happen, and if it’s a constant problem, bring in a local plumber to look at repairs.
Be on the lookout for multiple points of the plumbing system causing problems, such as if there’s a strong scent coming from the home or if you notice the plumbing vent on the roof is damaged.
Beyond keeping the entire plumbing system flowing, plumbing vents also help control gas and odors from entering the home. These vents also allow fresh air to enter your plumbing system, which helps improve water flow. A sure sign the plumbing vent is failing or needs repairs is if there’s a strong sewage scent coming from multiple points of the home.