What every Arlington homeowner should know about their plumbing

A lot of Arlington's housing went up in the 1970s, which means plenty of homes here have plumbing that's pushing 50. If your house was built around then, you're living with copper supply lines, cast iron sewer pipes, and possibly lead solder that's been quietly aging since Gerald Ford was president.

Older homes from before 1950 have their own story, but it's the big middle group, homes from the 1970s and 1980s, where we get the most calls. Here's what's behind those walls, what the water is doing to it, and the signs that it's time for a closer look.

What's behind the walls of a 1970s Arlington home

If your home dates from the mid-1970s, here's what's likely in it:

• Copper supply lines with lead-based solder at the joints, which was common until the late 1980s.
• Cast iron drain and sewer lines showing their age with rust scale buildup.

Some of the older homes also have galvanized steel lines.

The copper is where we're seeing trouble first. We're finding pinhole leaks in homes that never had a plumbing problem before.

The lead solder matters most in homes built before the late 1980s. Lead solder was banned for drinking water systems, but homes built earlier still have those joints. Water quality testing and filtration can help identify and address lead concerns.

The cast iron sewer lines are the other big item. At 50-plus years old, they're showing their age. Arlington's lots are tight, so your sewer line is often shorter than a suburban run, but getting to it can mean working through landscaped yards, under decks, or around mature trees. Heavily scaled cast iron doesn't always respond to ordinary snaking, and hydro jetting may be needed to restore proper flow.

How the water affects your pipes

Arlington's water comes from the Washington Aqueduct on the Potomac and, like Fairfax Water's, is disinfected with chloramine. Unlike chlorine, which dissipates quickly, chloramine stays active longer in your pipes. It's harder on the rubber gaskets and seals in fixtures, and water chemistry is one of several factors behind the pinhole leaks we're seeing in older copper.

Each spring, Arlington flushes hydrants and mains to clear out sediment. Some discolored water during that period is normal. Arlington also has an ongoing water main rehabilitation program, which can briefly affect water quality and pressure at your tap.

If discolored water hangs on after the flushing period ends, our diagnostic services can tell you whether the issue is in your home's plumbing or in the municipal system.

Plumbing in townhouses and rowhouses

A pinhole leak on an upper floor of an attached home can damage several units, not just yours. In rowhouses and townhomes, shared walls often mean shared utility chases. Water from a failed supply line or a sewer backup can travel through wall cavities and show up next door.

That makes early detection more important in attached housing. Our leak detection work finds problems inside walls before they spread to the neighbors.

Repairs in attached and tightly packed homes also take more planning. Limited access, permits, and coordinating with neighbors can turn a simple repair into a multi-day job. That's one more reason to find problems on your schedule instead of in an emergency.

Signs your Arlington home needs professional attention

These are the signs we see most in Arlington's older homes:

• Discolored water that doesn't clear after the spring main flushing.
• Reduced water pressure on the upper floors of a multi-story home.
• Gurgling drains, which can point to a venting problem or a partial blockage.
• Water stains on ceilings or walls, especially around shared walls in townhomes.
• Frequent drain clogs in homes with cast iron sewer lines.

What our technicians check

When we do a full plumbing assessment on an older Arlington home, our technicians look at:

• The sewer line, by camera, to see the condition of the cast iron.
• The copper supply lines, for early signs of pinhole leaks.
• Your fixtures, including their seals and gaskets.
• Water quality concerns, including lead, and what filtration fits your home.

A house built in the 1970s has copper, cast iron, and old solder that are all hitting their age at once. We work in homes like yours every week. Pioneer is family-owned, licensed, bonded, and insured, and we give a written, upfront quote before any work begins. Call (703) 508-3088 or reach out to book an assessment.