Chevy Chase began as an 1890s streetcar suburb, and in ZIP code 20815 more than two-thirds of homes were built before 1980, including over 2,600 from 1939 or earlier. Many of those houses still carry galvanized steel or early copper supply lines, which is why repiping is a common project here. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Chevy Chase.
Signs it's time to replace the lines
- Brown or yellow water when a tap first opens
- Upstairs showers that lose pressure when someone runs water below
- Leaks at threaded joints in the basement
- A history of patch repairs on different floors
- Mixed galvanized and copper with corrosion where the two meet
Chevy Chase housing and local rules
The Chevy Chase Land Company developed the area along Connecticut Avenue starting in the 1890s, and today it's a patchwork of an unincorporated area and several small incorporated towns and villages. That history leaves many large, older single-family houses, often expanded more than once. Prewar homes were typically plumbed in galvanized steel; later additions and remodels brought copper. Where the two metals meet, corrosion speeds up.
WSSC Water supplies water and sewer. It reports removing all known lead pipe from its distribution system in the early 2000s, publishes a service line map, and notes that homes with a lead service line may need to flush longer. Plumbing permits come from WSSC Water Permit Services, and the work has to be done by a plumber registered with WSSC Water. In the Town of Chevy Chase, larger projects need a Town permit in addition to the Montgomery County permit, and the Town won't approve its permit until the County permit is issued. If your repipe is part of a bigger renovation, build that sequence into the schedule. Other incorporated villages may have their own steps.
What affects the cost
- House size, number of floors and bathrooms
- Plaster walls and decorative trim that need careful opening and restoration
- Additions built at different times with different pipe
- Whether the customer side of the service line is replaced too
- Town and county paperwork for larger renovations
- Material choice and finish work
What happens when you call
Calling the number on this page connects you with an independent local plumber who works in Chevy Chase. Mention whether you're inside the Town of Chevy Chase or another incorporated village, since that affects permits. The plumber will look at the basement lines, the main valve and the water heater, then lay out a plan that covers routing, water shutoffs and how plaster openings will be handled.
Repiping questions in Chevy Chase
What changes when the walls are plaster instead of drywall?
Who issues the permit for a repipe?
How can I tell whether my house still has galvanized steel pipe?
Can we keep living in the house during the work?
More plumbing services in Chevy Chase
Repiping nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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