Repiping in Greenbelt, MD

What happens when you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent local plumber who works in Greenbelt. Expect a few questions: the age and type of home, where leaks or rusty water have appeared, and whether the house is part of a cooperative or homeowners association. A site visit follows, with a look at exposed pipe in the basement, utility closet or crawlspace. From there the plumber can recommend a targeted repair, a partial repipe or a whole-house replacement, and explain the permits involved.

What affects the cost

• House type. Rowhouse-style and townhouse units with shared walls need more planning than detached homes.
• Access. Block or masonry walls, where a building has them, are harder to route through than wood framing.
• Material. PEX usually needs fewer fittings; copper takes more labor but is a familiar choice.
• Fixture count. More baths, laundry and outdoor faucets mean more connections.
• Finishes. Patching drywall or plaster and repainting.
• Permits. WSSC Water's plumbing permit, plus any City of Greenbelt permit the project needs.

Greenbelt conditions

Greenbelt was planned as a New Deal cooperative community and was the first and largest of the three federal Greenbelt Towns. Old Greenbelt, a National Historic Landmark District, is the oldest part; Greenbelt East, Greenbelt West and Springhill Lake were built later. With a median build year of 1976, many homes still run on plumbing installed between the 1930s and 1970s, which can include galvanized steel and aging copper.

WSSC Water supplies the city. WSSC's tap water analysis puts Potomac plant water at an average of 140 mg/L hardness and Patuxent plant water at 64 mg/L, and the plant serving any one address can vary. That scale affects fixtures and fittings more than the pipe itself. WSSC requires a plumber holding its license for interior re-piping. Greenbelt adds its own step: projects that need a Prince George's County building permit must also be permitted by the City.

Before the plumber arrives

• Locate the main shutoff and check that it turns
• Note where leaks or discolored water have occurred
• Check cooperative or association rules for plumbing work
• Clear space around the water heater and under sinks
• Have recent water bills handy if usage has jumped