Plumbing Inspection in Accokeek, MD

Local conditions in Accokeek

Accokeek was rural tobacco country on the Potomac and is now mostly suburban, but not uniformly. The Moyaone Reserve, west of Route 210, has individually designed mid-century homes on wooded lots of five acres or more, while newer subdivisions brought the median build year to around 1997. Public water and sewer from WSSC Water reach parts of the area, but whether a particular home is connected or relies on a private well and a private onsite wastewater system depends on the address. Check the deed records, your bills or ask the seller directly.

Natural gas mains don't reach every street, so propane and all-electric homes are possible. In Prince George's County, WSSC Water issues permits for and inspects both natural gas and LP gas installations, so a propane water heater swap still needs a WSSC permit and a gasfitter holding a WSSC license. Wells and onsite sewage systems are handled by Prince George's County DPIE.

What the inspection looks like by system type

Signs it's time

• You're buying and don't know how water and waste are handled
• The pump cycles on and off often or pressure swings
• Drains slow down all at once or gurgle
• Older galvanized or copper lines in a mid-century house

Timing notes

Book early in the contract period, especially if a well needs testing or a separate onsite system evaluation. Winter can freeze lines in crawlspaces and pump houses on large lots, so ask the plumber to check insulation there. For WSSC-served homes, WSSC banned lead as a service line material in 1954 and has a lookup map called What's Your Pipe Type. If you smell gas or propane, leave first, then call 911 and your gas utility or propane supplier.