Repiping in Lanham replaces the water supply lines in homes that are often more than fifty years old. The median Lanham home was built in 1969, so original copper or steel pipe is common here. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lanham.
Lanham conditions
Lanham is a fully built-out inner suburb along the Capital Beltway, next to the New Carrollton Metro and Amtrak station. The Lanham postal area is wider than the CDP and includes Seabrook. Most homes were built in the 1950s through the 1970s, and houses from that era usually have copper supply lines, with galvanized steel in some of the older ones.
WSSC Water supplies Lanham. It owns the water service line from the main to the property line, while the homeowner owns the section into the home. WSSC's What's Your Pipe Type? program identifies the material on the customer side, and some customer-side galvanized lines require replacement.
In Prince George's County, plumbing permits and inspections come from WSSC Water rather than DPIE, and WSSC requires a plumber holding its license for interior re-piping. DPIE handles building permits for this unincorporated area.
At this age, the decision is usually less about whether the pipe will fail and more about when. Copper installed around the 1969 median build year has had decades of flow wearing at its elbows and joints, and steel from the 1950s will have rusted inside. If you are seeing leaks in more than one place, pricing a full repipe before the next one makes sense. If you are planning to sell, a buyer's inspector will likely notice old pipe too.
PEX or copper
| Factor | PEX | Copper |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Flexible, fewer fittings, faster in finished walls | Rigid, more joints, more labor |
| Freeze tolerance | Expands somewhat before splitting | More likely to split when frozen |
| Wall openings | Often fewer | Often more |
| Sunlight | Must be kept out of UV light | Not affected |
| Familiarity | Widely used in newer repipes | Long track record |
Signs it may be time
- Leaks that keep appearing in new places
- Rusty or discolored water from older steel lines
- Low pressure throughout the house
- Corroded fittings at the water heater
Seasonal notes
Winter is when old pipe in outside walls or crawlspaces is most likely to freeze and split. If your lines run through cold areas and are already leaking, replacing them before the coldest weather makes sense. Spring and fall are popular times for planned repipes, so schedule early.
Repiping questions in Lanham
Should the new lines be PEX or copper?
What kind of supply pipe is likely inside a house this age?
Can a homeowner do their own repipe here?
Does a repipe include the drain pipes?
More plumbing services in Lanham
Repiping nearby
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