Plumbing and Pipe Fitting

Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Services in Portland, Oregon

Portland's housing stock tells its age through its pipes. If your home was built before 1960, there's a strong chance you're living with galvanized steel supply lines that have been quietly corroding from the inside out for decades, narrowing to the point where your shower pressure drops the moment someone turns on a kitchen faucet. If it was built before 1970, your drain lines are likely cast iron — and cast iron in Portland's wet climate eventually rusts through, cracks at the joints, and invites root intrusion from the massive street trees that line nearly every residential block in this city. Boss PDX handles plumbing and pipe fitting across the Portland metro area, from full re-pipes in older Sellwood bungalows to rough-in plumbing for kitchen and bathroom remodels in Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tigard, and Tualatin. We're a licensed general contractor (Oregon CCB #232383, Washington BOSSPPL793RN) — not a standalone plumbing company — which means we coordinate plumbing work inside the larger scope of your project: framing, drywall, finish, permits, and inspections, all under one contract.

Pipe Replacement: Galvanized, Cast Iron, and Polybutylene

The most common plumbing project we do in Portland is replacing old supply and drain piping that has reached the end of its useful life. The failure modes are predictable by era and material.

Galvanized Steel Supply Lines (Pre-1960s Homes)

Galvanized pipe was the standard for residential water supply from the 1920s through the late 1950s. It's threaded steel coated in zinc, and the zinc wears away from the inside over decades, exposing bare steel to constant water contact. The result is internal corrosion that steadily reduces the pipe's interior diameter. A three-quarter-inch galvanized line in a 1940s Alameda home might have an effective opening smaller than a pencil by now. Symptoms include low water pressure that worsens over time, rusty or discolored water after the system sits idle overnight, and pinhole leaks at threaded joints.

We replace galvanized supply lines with either copper or PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). Copper is durable, proven, and lasts 50-plus years in Portland's water chemistry. PEX is flexible, faster to install (continuous lengths, fewer fittings, no soldering), and especially practical in older homes with finished walls because it routes through existing framing cavities without extensive drywall demolition. Both are approved under Oregon Residential Specialty Code and meet Portland Water Bureau standards. A full galvanized-to-PEX re-pipe for a typical two-bathroom Portland home runs $4,500 to $8,000. Copper re-pipes run 20 to 30 percent higher. Most re-pipes take two to four days of plumbing work.

Cast Iron Drain Lines (Pre-1970s Homes)

Cast iron was the standard drain, waste, and vent (DWV) material in Portland homes built before the early 1970s. Nine months of moisture each year, combined with acidic soil conditions in many neighborhoods, accelerates exterior corrosion. The joints — originally packed with oakum and sealed with molten lead — crack and separate as Portland's heavy clay soils shift and settle. Once a joint opens even slightly, tree roots find it within a growing season.

We replace failing cast iron with ABS or PVC plastic pipe, both approved under Oregon plumbing code. A cast iron to ABS drain line replacement — including the main stack and horizontal runs — ranges from $3,000 to $7,000. Homes with finished basements cost more because we need to open ceilings to access horizontal lines. If drain lines run under a concrete slab, expect $5,000 to $12,000 depending on the extent of the work.

Polybutylene Supply Lines (1978-1995 Homes)

Homes in Tigard, Tualatin, and Wilsonville built between 1978 and 1995 may have polybutylene (poly-B) supply lines. Polybutylene reacts with chlorine in treated water, becoming brittle and cracking from the inside — often without warning. If your home has gray or blue flexible plastic supply lines with crimp fittings, you likely have polybutylene, and a proactive re-pipe to PEX is the right move before a sudden failure causes water damage that costs far more than the plumbing itself.

Water Heater Installation and Replacement

Most tank water heaters need replacement every 10 to 15 years. We install tank, tankless, and heat pump systems and can advise on which makes sense for your household.

Tank Water Heaters

A tank water heater replacement — removal, installation, connections, and venting — typically runs $1,800 to $3,200 for gas and $1,500 to $2,800 for electric. Oregon code requires expansion tanks on closed-loop systems and seismic strapping — we include both as standard.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless units heat water on demand, eliminating standby heat loss and reducing energy costs by 20 to 30 percent. Gas tankless installation runs $3,500 to $6,000, depending on whether the existing gas line and venting need upgrading. Portland's cold incoming water temperature (around 50 degrees in winter from Bull Run) makes gas tankless the better whole-house option; electric tankless works well for single-fixture point-of-use applications.

Heat Pump Water Heaters

Increasingly popular in Portland thanks to Energy Trust of Oregon rebates, heat pump water heaters use roughly 60 percent less energy than conventional electric tanks. They need adequate airspace (700+ cubic feet) and produce cool, dehumidified air — a genuine benefit in Portland's damp basements. Installation runs $3,000 to $5,500 before rebates of $500 to $1,000.

Fixture Installation and Bathroom and Kitchen Rough-In

Whether you're remodeling a bathroom or updating a kitchen, the plumbing rough-in is the foundation everything else builds on — supply lines, drain lines, and vent piping stubbed out to exact fixture locations before drywall goes up.

Bathroom Plumbing

A standard bathroom rough-in covers supply and drain for the toilet, vanity, and tub or shower. Moving fixtures — sliding a toilet to the opposite wall, converting a tub to a walk-in shower — means relocating drain lines through or under the subfloor. In slab-on-grade homes common in Beaumont, Rose City Park, and parts of Southwest Portland, moving a toilet requires cutting and patching concrete. Costs range from $1,500 to $3,500 for same-footprint replacements to $3,000 to $7,000 for reconfigured layouts.

Kitchen Plumbing

Kitchen rough-in includes supply and drain for the sink, dishwasher connection, and sometimes a pot filler or ice maker line. Moving a sink to an island requires a loop vent or air admittance valve under Oregon code, increasing scope substantially. Kitchen rough-in runs $1,200 to $4,000 depending on complexity and whether gas piping for a range is included.

Drain Cleaning, Repair, and Root Intrusion

Portland's urban tree canopy — big leaf maples, sweetgums, Douglas firs, and the massive oaks lining streets in Irvington, Laurelhurst, and Eastmoreland — sends root systems directly toward moisture escaping from aging pipe joints. A single growing season can push a root mass through a cracked joint thick enough to block a four-inch drain line completely.

• Mechanical drain cleaning — cable machines to clear root masses and debris. Maintenance, not a permanent fix, but buys time. $200 to $500.
• Camera inspection — we camera-inspect before quoting any drain repair so we're pricing the actual problem. $250 to $400.
• Spot repairs — excavate and replace a localized damaged section. $1,500 to $4,000.
• Full drain line replacement — when the entire line is deteriorated. See our sewer line replacement page for trenchless options and City of Portland requirements.

Gas Piping

Gas piping in Portland requires a BDS plumbing permit and licensed installation. We handle gas lines for furnaces, water heaters, ranges, fireplaces, and outdoor grills. Common projects include running a new gas line to a kitchen range during a remodel ($400 to $1,200), upsizing lines for tankless water heaters, and gas leak repair with full pressure testing. If you smell gas, call NW Natural (800-882-3377) and evacuate first — we handle the repair once the immediate hazard is secured.

Water Line Replacement

The water service line from the Portland Water Bureau's main to your meter is the Bureau's responsibility; from the meter to your house is yours. Many service lines in older Portland neighborhoods are galvanized or, in some cases, lead. Replacing a deteriorated service line with copper eliminates corrosion concerns and typically improves pressure throughout the house. Water service line replacement runs $3,000 to $6,000 depending on the length of the run and whether landscaping or a driveway is in the path.

Portland Plumbing Permits and Inspections

Almost any plumbing work beyond basic fixture swaps requires a permit from Portland's Bureau of Development Services (BDS) — including water heater replacements, pipe replacements, fixture rough-ins, and gas piping. The permit process ensures work meets Oregon Residential Specialty Code and protects you from liability, insurance complications, and problems at resale.

• Permit application — we handle applications through the BDS portal. Plumbing permits typically issue within one to three business days.
• Rough-in inspection — BDS verifies pipe sizing, slope, venting, and connections before drywall goes up.
• Final inspection — confirms everything is connected, functional, and code-compliant after fixtures are installed.
• Sewer work and BES — projects involving the sewer lateral fall under Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) jurisdiction. The homeowner is responsible for the lateral from the house to the public main, including portions under the sidewalk or street.

We pull permits, schedule inspections, and manage the entire code-compliance process. Every plumbing project we complete passes final inspection before we consider it done.

Emergency vs. Planned Plumbing Work

Planned work — scheduled re-pipes, proactive water heater replacements, remodel plumbing with proper lead time — lets us scope accurately, order at standard pricing, and schedule efficiently. Emergency work — burst pipes, holiday-weekend sewer backups, water heater failures flooding basements — requires immediate response and after-hours labor, typically costing 30 to 50 percent more than the same work planned in advance. If your galvanized pipes are showing low pressure, your water heater is past its 12-year mark, or your drains are slowing consistently, address it now rather than waiting for a failure on the worst possible day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Portland home has galvanized pipes that need replacing?

Check exposed pipes in your basement, crawlspace, or utility area. Galvanized steel is dull gray and connects with threaded fittings — scratch the surface and you'll see silver-gray metal underneath. Signs that replacement is overdue include low water pressure (especially at fixtures far from the water entry), rusty water when faucets first run in the morning, and visible corrosion at joints. If your home was built before 1960 and has its original supply piping, a re-pipe is almost certainly in your near future.

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Portland?

Yes. BDS requires a plumbing permit for water heater replacements, even a like-for-like swap. The inspection verifies proper venting, gas connections, seismic strapping, expansion tank, and code-compliant T&P valve discharge. We include permit costs and inspection coordination in every water heater quote.

What's the difference between PEX and copper, and which should I choose?

Copper has a proven multi-decade track record and excellent longevity in Portland's water chemistry. PEX installs faster, costs less, resists freezing better, and doesn't corrode — but can't be used outdoors (UV degrades it). For most Portland re-pipes, we recommend PEX for cost savings and faster installation, but we install both and will walk you through the decision for your specific home.

How long does a whole-house re-pipe take?

Two to four days of plumbing work for a typical two-bathroom Portland home. You'll be without water during work hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) on cutover days, but we stage the work to keep at least one bathroom operational when possible. Drywall patching and painting after access openings adds one to three additional days.

Who is responsible for the sewer lateral — the homeowner or the city?

The homeowner owns the entire sewer lateral from the house to the public main, including the portion under the sidewalk and street. BES maintains the public mains but does not repair private laterals. BES does offer a financial assistance program for qualifying homeowners. See our sewer line replacement page for full details.

Can you handle plumbing for a full bathroom or kitchen remodel?

Yes — this is a core advantage of working with a general contractor. When you remodel a bathroom or kitchen with Boss PDX, plumbing rough-in and fixture installation are coordinated within the full project scope — demolition, framing, electrical, drywall, tile, and finish — under one contract with one project lead. We handle permits, inspection scheduling, and trade sequencing so you're not managing multiple subcontractors yourself.

Get a Free Plumbing Estimate

Whether you're dealing with corroded galvanized pipes, a water heater past its prime, a remodel that needs proper rough-in, or drain lines losing the battle with Portland's street trees, we'd like to hear about it. Request a free estimate or call us directly at 844-BOSS-PDX. We'll walk the site, scope the work, and give you a straight answer on cost, timeline, and what the City of Portland will require.