Whole House Repiping on the Eastern Shore & in Anne Arundel County
Pinhole leaks, blue-green stains, rusty water, or weak pressure at every faucet usually mean your water lines are failing. We replace them with PEX or copper for homes on Kent Island and in Easton, Chestertown, Cambridge, Annapolis, and Edgewater, and we fix the water problem that wore the old pipes out.
- MD Master Plumber MPL #102054
- Licensed & insured
- Free on-site estimates
Signs Your Home Needs Repiping
Pinhole leaks that keep coming back
One pinhole is a repair. Two or three in different spots means the copper is thinning everywhere.
Blue-green stains
Stains in sinks, tubs, and toilets mean copper is dissolving into your water, usually from acidic well water.
Low pressure everywhere
Galvanized steel pipe rusts closed from the inside, choking flow at every fixture.
Rusty or brown water
Discolored water from both hot and cold taps often comes from corroding galvanized lines.
Gray plastic pipe
Gray polybutylene, installed in many homes from about 1978 to 1995, is known to crack and fail without warning.
Repairs piling up
When you're calling a plumber every few months, a repipe usually costs less in the long run.
Why Pipes Fail Early Here
Many private wells on the Eastern Shore and in Anne Arundel County draw from sandy Coastal Plain aquifers, and a lot of that water is acidic (low pH). Acidic water slowly dissolves copper from the inside, which is why we see so many pinhole leaks in homes that are only 20 or 30 years old.
That's the part most plumbers miss: if you repipe in copper without fixing the water, the new pipe fails the same way. We test your pH and recommend an acid neutralizer when you need one, or a PEX repipe that isn't affected by acidic water.
Pipe you may have now
- Galvanized steel: common in older homes. Rusts shut from the inside and lowers pressure.
- Copper: long-lasting on balanced water, but pits and pinholes on acidic well water.
- Polybutylene (gray plastic): found in many homes built from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. Prone to sudden failure.
Not sure what you have? We'll identify it during the estimate.
PEX vs. Copper
Both are good choices. We'll recommend the right one for your water and your house.
| PEX | Copper | |
|---|---|---|
| Acidic well water | Not affected | Pits unless the water is treated |
| Install time & wall openings | Flexible, fewer fittings and smaller openings | Rigid runs, more fittings |
| Freeze tolerance | Expands, less likely to split | More likely to burst |
| Cost | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Exposed outdoors in sunlight | Must be protected from UV | Fine |
How a Repipe Works
- Assess. We identify your pipe, find the failures, and test your water.
- Plan. We map new routes through the crawl space, basement, or attic to keep wall openings small.
- Quote. You get a written price and a schedule before we start.
- Repipe. We run new lines to every fixture and keep your water off as little as possible.
- Test. We pressure test every line, pass inspection, and walk you through it.
Crawl space homes are often easier. Many Shore homes sit on crawl spaces instead of basements, which can give us open access to most lines with less cutting into finished walls.
Repiping Cost
Every house is different, so we price each repipe after seeing it. The biggest factors are:
- Size of the home and the number of bathrooms and fixtures
- Access: open crawl space vs. finished basement or slab
- Material: PEX or copper
- Stories and how lines have to route between floors
- Water treatment, if your water test calls for it
You get a written price before work starts. Estimates are free.
Repiping across the region
Queen Anne's · Talbot · Kent · Caroline · Dorchester · Anne Arundel
- Kent Island & Queenstown: 1970s–90s homes with failing copper and polybutylene
- Easton, St. Michaels & Chestertown: older homes with galvanized lines
- Denton, Ridgely & Cambridge: farmhouses on acidic wells
- Edgewater, Davidsonville & Annapolis: well homes with pinhole leaks
Repiping FAQs
How long does a whole house repipe take?
It depends on the size of the home and access. Most homes take a few days. We give you a schedule before we start and plan the work to keep your water off as little as possible.
Is PEX safe for drinking water?
Yes. PEX used for water supply lines is certified for drinking water and is widely used in new homes across Maryland.
Why does my copper pipe keep getting pinhole leaks?
On private wells, the most common cause is acidic (low pH) water dissolving the copper from the inside. We test your water, and if it's acidic, we recommend an acid neutralizer or a PEX repipe.
Will repiping fix my low water pressure?
If corroded galvanized pipe is the cause, yes. On a well, low pressure can also come from your pressure tank, switch, or a clogged filter, so we check those too.
Do you need a permit to repipe a house?
Yes. Repiping requires a plumbing permit and inspection, and we take care of it as part of the job.
Should I repipe or just fix the leak?
If it's a single leak and your pipe is in good shape, repair it. If you've had several leaks, have gray polybutylene, or your galvanized pipe is restricting flow, repiping is usually the better investment. We'll tell you honestly.
Related: Drain line replacement · Well pressure tanks · Acid neutralizers · All plumbing services
Done With Pinhole Leaks?
We'll repipe your home and fix the water that caused the problem, so it doesn't come back.