Leak Detection in Clarksburg, MD

Newer homes still leak

Clarksburg was an 18th-century crossroads that turned into one of the fastest-growing parts of the I-270 corridor, and roughly 84 percent of its homes went up between 2000 and 2019. New construction rarely has corroded pipe, but it does have thousands of fittings, crimp rings, push connectors and appliance hookups, plus fire sprinkler systems and in-ground irrigation that older neighborhoods lack. Many of those components are now reaching the age when they first start to fail.

Builders in this era also tucked water heaters, laundry hookups and manifolds into finished basements and closets, so a small drip can wick into carpet pad or drywall for a long time before anyone notices. A plumber's job is to find the exact fitting so the repair, and any patching, stays small.

Steps to take right now

1. Turn off all faucets, appliances and the irrigation controller.
2. Watch the WSSC Water meter for several minutes. Any movement means water is escaping.
3. Close the main shutoff, usually in the basement or a utility closet, and check the meter again. If it still moves, the leak may be on the buried line outside.
4. Look at the fire sprinkler riser for drips at the valve or test port.
5. Check under the refrigerator, behind the washer and in the water heater pan.
6. Report water bubbling up in the street or near the meter to WSSC Water at 301-206-4002.

Symptom guide

Cost factors

• Number of zones, fixtures and branches to test
• Whether the source sits behind finished drywall or under a basement slab
• Specialized testing equipment needed
• The repair: one fitting versus a section of buried service line
• Permits, since WSSC Water handles plumbing permits in Montgomery County

Ownership also matters outdoors. WSSC Water is responsible for the service line from the main to the property line, and the homeowner owns the portion from the property line into the house, so where the leak is decides who pays.