Kensington's median home was built in 1959, and its southern core is a planned Victorian-era neighborhood, so many houses still have galvanized steel or early copper supply lines. Repiping replaces that old pipe when rust, pressure loss or repeat leaks show it's worn out. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Kensington.
Why do so many Kensington homes need new pipe?
Kensington grew from a summer retreat into a commuter suburb, and the Kensington Historic District preserves much of its original Victorian-era layout. Houses from that period through the 1950s were commonly plumbed in galvanized steel, which corrodes from the inside and narrows over decades. By now, many have been partly re-plumbed in copper, leaving a mix of metals and a lot of joints. That mix is where leaks and rusty water tend to start.
Can WSSC help with the service line?
WSSC Water supplies water and sewer service. Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule it maintains an address-searchable map of known or reported service line materials, including the customer side, along with a customer survey to verify pipe type. It also runs a Service Line Replacement Program with replacement planning and financial assistance. If your incoming line is lead or galvanized, that program is worth looking into before a repipe, since the plumber can tie new interior pipe into a new service line in one visit.
What permits are involved?
WSSC Water Permit Services issues plumbing permits, and the work must be done by a plumber registered with WSSC Water. The Town of Kensington has its own forms for home construction projects, so if your repipe is part of a larger renovation, call Town Hall before work starts. The 20895 postal area, often called Greater Kensington, is much bigger than the town itself; addresses outside town limits deal with Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services for building permits rather than the Town.
A Kensington note
Older homes here often have plaster walls, low basement ceilings and tight crawlspaces. Ask the plumber how lines will be routed to keep openings to a minimum and whether plaster patching is in the price. Cold-weather leaks in exterior walls are another reason to plan new runs through heated space. If a kitchen or bath renovation is already planned, replacing supply lines at the same time saves opening the same walls twice. Bring up any additions as well, since they were often plumbed at a different time with different pipe.
Repiping questions in Kensington
How can I tell whether my house still has galvanized steel pipe?
Should the buried service line be replaced at the same time?
What changes when the walls are plaster instead of drywall?
Can we keep living in the house during the work?
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