Repiping in Washington, DC

Why District homes often need it

The median year built for housing in Washington is 1957, and older rowhouses and detached homes in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan can still have galvanized steel supply pipe. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside, narrowing the opening until pressure drops and rust shows up in the water. Pinhole leaks in aging copper are another common trigger.

The lead connection

DC Water warns that galvanized pipes inside a home can accumulate lead released by a past lead service line, and it recommends fully replacing galvanized plumbing along with lead service lines. If your service line has been or will be replaced through Lead Free DC, repiping the inside galvanized lines is a sensible next step. DC Water's Service Line Inventory Map and free lead testing can help you learn where you stand.

Signs it is time

• Brown or rusty water, especially first thing in the morning
• Low pressure on upper floors or when two fixtures run at once
• Several leak repairs in the past few years
• Visible corrosion or mineral crust at fittings in the basement

Copper or PEX

DC water is moderately hard, so some scale at fixtures is normal with any material; it is a minor factor in the choice.

How the work goes

An unfinished basement lets a plumber run new mains along the ceiling joists, then branch up to each fixture through small wall openings. Most households keep water at night while work proceeds in stages. Plaster walls in older homes take more care to open and patch than drywall.

What drives the price

Number of bathrooms and floors, wall finishes, access from a basement, chosen material and how much patching follows all matter. Repiping needs a DC Department of Buildings plumbing permit, which only a contractor holding a DC plumbing license can apply for.