If you’re thinking about renovating your home or selling soon, you may be considering ways to increase your home’s value. Plumbing improvements are one of the best ways to appeal to future buyers in 2026. Reliable plumbing and modern aesthetics are key. Buyers will appreciate the confidence that comes with buying a move-in-ready home without ongoing plumbing issues.

Republic Home Services provides Texans in Waxahachie, Red Oak, Ennis, and nearby areas with high-quality home services, including plumbing replacements and installations. We’re a trusted local choice because we deliver expert service from licensed plumbers, and we always operate with integrity and respect.

Even if you’re not considering selling your home, updating your plumbing will enhance your comfort and improve your energy and water efficiency. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best plumbing upgrades that add value to your home.

Replace Old Pipes with Modern Materials

Many older (pre-1980s), unrenovated Texan homes have plumbing made from outdated materials such as polybutylene, galvanized steel, and cast iron. This is a red flag for potential buyers, as these materials are known to fail as they age, resulting in hidden leaks and costly repairs.

It’s important to replace failing pipes with those made from PEX or copper materials, because older plumbing affects:

• Your plumbing’s reliability: Outdated pipes may leak or burst, resulting in costly problems, reduced water pressure, high water bills, and poor water quality. PEX and copper are corrosion-resistant and are less likely to be damaged in freezing weather.
• The water flow efficiency: Over time, the hard water in Texas causes mineral buildup on the inside of pipes that restricts water flow. Corrosion may also cause constructions, as well as collapses. This causes uneven flow, clogging, and low water pressure.
• Your home’s water quality: Contaminants can leach from older pipes, discoloring your water, making it taste and smell bad, and even leaching pollutants and heavy metals into your drinking water supply.
• Your insurance eligibility: Texas insurance companies are cautious when it comes to insuring homes with aging or corroded pipes. This may affect your home insurance, as well as a potential buyer’s ability to secure a mortgage.

Whole-house repiping is a big undertaking, but it’s worthwhile and may be one of the best plumbing upgrades for resale, as it can bring a high return on investment. Depending on the age and size of your home, repiping can increase the value by up to 10%.

Upgrade to a Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters are on-demand heaters that heat cold water directly through a heat exchanger, without holding it in a storage tank. Some reasons homeowners choose to upgrade their tank water heater to a tankless model include:

• Never-ending hot water supply: The water is heated as it flows through, allowing for a continuous flow of hot water for as long as you want it.
• Less energy waste: Unlike tankless on-demand models, tanked systems use energy to keep the water inside consistently hot.
• They save space: Without the large tank, these heaters are compact and can be wall-mounted, freeing up room in your utility room, basement, or closet. This also allows for more flexible installation, as they can fit nearly anywhere.
• A reduced flooding risk: Tank water heaters pose the risk of major flooding if a rupture occurs, but with a tankless water heater, only a small amount of water is inside the heat exchanger.
• Their longer lifespan: Tankless water heaters generally last 20 years or longer, while traditional water heaters tend to require replacing once they reach 10 to 15 years.

If you’re selling your home, you can mention your water heater upgrade in the listing, as it counts as a “green home” feature, and potential buyers will be interested in the energy efficiency and long-lasting hot water. We’ve estimated the return on investment for this upgrade to be up to 80-90%, especially if you’re replacing an outdated tank heater.

At Republic Home Services, we offer tankless water heater repair and installation services, so you can enjoy as much hot water as you like while increasing your home value.

Remodel or Update Bathrooms (Plumbing Fixtures Included)

Bathroom remodel plumbing upgrades are one of the home updates you can do that provide a high return on investment. Buyers are more interested when a home has bathrooms with high-quality fixtures and modern amenities. You may want to consider installing:

• Modern faucets
• Low-flow toilets
• Rain-style shower heads

These modern plumbing fixtures elevate the aesthetics and improve the water efficiency of the room. When paired with cosmetic updates like new tile or lighting, you may see a return on investment of 60-70%.

At Republic Home Services, our plumbers will work with you to make your dream bathroom a reality. We offer professional renovation services to ensure your work is done accurately, to code.

Add Another Bathroom

Adding even another half bath to your home will significantly increase its resale value, especially if you own an older home that only has one. If you’re putting in another bathroom, contact our team for assistance with planning the plumbing. We provide consultation services to ensure the job is done right, to code, with all permits in place. Once you’re ready, we can install the piping and fixtures for you with professional care.

Replace or Relocate the Main Water Line or Sewer Line

Replacing the water or sewer line might be required as part of your plumbing upgrades in 2026 if you have aging infrastructure that’s failing, if the pipes have sustained serious damage, or if the plumbing is made from outdated materials.

You may need to relocate your water or sewer lines if you’re completing large home renovations or if you need to resolve problems related to water flow and water pressure. It’s a complex job that should only be done by qualified professionals.

While these upgrades aren’t exciting to think about, they add value to your home and protect against future damage, which will reassure potential buyers of the plumbing system’s structural soundness.

Add a Whole-Home Water Filtration or Softener System

A water filtration system can improve the quality of your water by removing contaminants, including sediments, chlorine, and bacteria. A water softener is especially valuable in our area, where hard water is known to leave spots on your dishes, dry out your skin, and damage appliances and plumbing systems over time. With these additions to your home, you’ll improve the lifespan of your appliances and upgrade your water quality, while making your home more attractive to future buyers.

Install Smart Plumbing Technology

Smart plumbing technology includes:

• Leak detection systems: This type of system monitors for issues like water leaks, potentially frozen pipes, and/or humidity. If issues are detected, it’ll send an alert or sound an alarm to prevent hidden leaks from damaging your home.
• Wi-Fi-water shutoff valves: This is an internet-enabled device that can automatically shut your water off at the source when problems like pipe bursts are detected. The system can also be set to send alerts or activate remotely through WiFi.
• App-controlled water monitors: These monitors are placed on main water lines to track water pressure and flow, with usage insights, leak detection, and remote control options.

These and other smart technology integrations will prevent costly water damage and bring your home up to the most modern standards, meeting the growing trend of smart-home integration.

Contact Republic Home Services for a Plumbing Consultation, or Schedule Upgrades Today

Contact Republic Home Services at (214) 919-3762, or use our online calendar to schedule an in-home consultation today. Let us help you turn your home improvement goals into a reality. Our team is standing by to assist you.