Water Pipe Replacement
Get a clearer understanding of each type of water pipe material and the cost.
When a water heater is replaced, the pipes and fittings connecting it to your water supply are often left in place — even when they are old, corroded, or made from a material that was never suited for long-term use. At Homeone, we replace the water pipes and all fittings in stainless steel as standard. Here is why the material your installer chooses matters more than most homeowners realise.
The Five Pipe Materials — and the Problem with Each
PPR (polypropylene random copolymer) is a plastic pipe widely used in water installations. It becomes brittle when exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods — a common condition for outdoor water heater installations in Singapore.
Brittle PPR cracks under pressure or thermal stress. Joints are the most vulnerable point. A crack in an outdoor water pipe connection is not always immediately visible, and a slow leak behind a wall or in a cabinet can go undetected for months.
Copper water pipes corrode over time, particularly at joints and connections. In Singapore's humid, salt-laden environment, this process accelerates — especially for pipes exposed to outdoor conditions.
Corroded copper joints restrict water flow, discolour water, and eventually fail. Copper also reacts with certain water treatment chemicals, which can accelerate pitting corrosion from inside the pipe wall outward.
Stainless steel is the most durable water pipe material available for residential installations. It does not become brittle in sunlight, does not corrode at joints, and does not react with water treatment chemicals.
At the same installation price as PPR or copper, stainless steel is the straightforward choice. Homeone replaces all water pipes and fittings in stainless steel as a standard — not an upgrade.
Mechfit is a proprietary press-fit pipe system that uses specialised fittings. It requires a dedicated pressing tool and brand-specific components that are not interchangeable with standard plumbing parts.
The additional SGD 150 covers the proprietary fittings required for this system. Any future repair or extension to a Mechfit installation requires the same proprietary components — which limits your choice of plumber and increases the cost of future work.
PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is a flexible plastic pipe used in some newer condominium developments. It is easier to route than rigid pipe but degrades when exposed to UV light, making it unsuitable for outdoor installation.
The additional SGD 150 applies where existing PEX fittings are in place and must be matched. PEX-to-stainless transitions require specific adapters. As with Mechfit, future work on a PEX system is constrained by the fittings already installed.
The SGD 80 pipe replacement covers new pipes, new fittings, and zero old joints left in place. You are not paying to extend an ageing system — you are paying to replace it. The material Homeone installs is stainless steel, at the same price other installers charge to fit PPR or copper.