Repiping in Arlington, VA

Signs the supply lines have reached the end

• A second or third pinhole leak in a different wall or ceiling
• Brown or orange water when a faucet is first opened in the morning
• Pressure that has dropped at every fixture, not just one
• Gray threaded steel pipe visible near the meter or water heater
• Green crust or white scale building up on copper fittings
• Repair couplings and clamps scattered along the basement runs

A single leak on otherwise healthy pipe is a repair. A string of failures on pipe that all went in at once is the point where a repipe deserves a price.

What's behind the walls in Arlington

Arlington mixes high-rise corridors along the Rosslyn-Ballston Metro line with streets of single-family homes in places like Cherrydale. The older houses among them can still carry galvanized steel supply lines, which rust from the inside and narrow over time, while homes from the 1960s and 1970s usually have copper that may be wearing thin at elbows and joints. Basements are common, which helps: many runs can be swapped from below without opening finished rooms.

The County's water is moderately hard, about 8 grains per gallon (142 mg/L) according to its water quality report. That scale collects at valves and fittings, so it is worth asking how the new fittings and shutoffs will hold up.

Ownership matters too. Arlington County owns the line from the main to the meter, including the meter box, and the homeowner owns everything from the meter into the house. The County says its inventory has found no lead service lines and that it never used lead on its side. Owners can check their own line with a scratch and magnet test and report it online.

What moves the price

• Number of bathrooms, the kitchen, laundry and hose bibs to reconnect
• Whether the basement is finished or open framing
• PEX, copper or a mix, and the fittings each one uses
• Whether the owner's line from the meter is replaced at the same time
• Drywall and plaster patching, if it is part of the job
• Condo or HOA rules on access, shutoffs and work hours

What happens when you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent local plumber who works in Arlington. Mention the rough age of the house, where leaks have shown up and what pipe you can see at the meter. The plumber will look at exposed runs and the main shutoff, then explain whether a targeted fix, a partial repipe or a full one makes sense. Permits for plumbing work go through Arlington County's building and inspections program on the Permit Arlington portal, and the plumber normally handles the application.