Water Softener in Capitol Heights, MD

Signs your home may benefit

• White scale crusting faucet spouts and drains
• Spotted dishes even with fresh detergent
• A water heater that crackles while it heats
• Soap scum that seems impossible to rinse away
• A softener that runs but leaves no difference in the water

Capitol Heights water and housing

Capitol Heights began as a 1904 subdivision just past the District's eastern edge, and the Capitol Heights mailing address also covers surrounding unincorporated areas. The town's median home dates to about 1967. Because it borders the District, residents sometimes assume DC Water and DC rules apply. They don't: WSSC Water supplies the town with treated Potomac and Patuxent river water, and WSSC issues and inspects plumbing permits in Prince George's County. Right at the line, confirm by checking which utility bills you.

WSSC disinfects with chlorine and adds a corrosion inhibitor. Its report doesn't list a hardness figure for Capitol Heights, so a test kit at the kitchen faucet gives the number a softener needs. If taste is the bigger complaint, a carbon filter addresses chlorine; a softener doesn't.

In homes from the 1960s, the plumber will want to see the main shutoff and the pipe around it before recommending a tie-in point. Original valves can be stiff, and replacing one during the install keeps the new bypass from being the only working shutoff. Low pressure is another thing to raise early: if the flow is already weak, the cause may be old supply pipe, and adding a softener on top of a restricted line won't improve it. A plumber can check the pressure and flow before suggesting equipment.

Cost depends on

• Hardness reading and number of occupants
• Access to the main in a basement or crawlspace
• Pipe or valve replacement at the tie-in
• Drain and outlet availability
• Old equipment removal

When you call

An independent plumber who serves Capitol Heights will ask about the problem, the home's age, and the water heater type. Have your bill handy to confirm WSSC service. Most plumbing in Prince George's County must be done by a plumber registered with WSSC under a WSSC permit, and water heater replacements always need one.