Plumbing Inspection in Clinton, MD

Signs it's time for an inspection

• You're buying and the inspection window is short
• The water heater is close to its second decade or the label is unreadable
• Pressure drops when two fixtures run at once
• A toilet runs on its own or a shutoff valve won't close fully
• Water stains under a bathroom on the ceiling below

Local conditions in Clinton

Clinton grew up around the historic Surrattsville crossroads, next to Joint Base Andrews, and its housing is newer on average than the inner-Beltway towns: the median home was built around 1987. That puts many houses in the stage where original water heaters, washing machine hoses, fill valves and supply connectors deserve a hard look, even though the main pipes are usually in decent shape.

WSSC Water supplies water and sewer. WSSC owns the water service line from the main to the property line, and the owner is responsible from the property line into the house, so a leak in the front yard is often yours. WSSC says it removed all known lead pipe from its distribution system in the early 2000s, and its What's Your Pipe Type? program and inventory map at wsscwater.com/LCR-map help identify the customer-side material. WSSC notes that some customer-side galvanized lines need replacement, which the plumber can spot at the meter or shutoff.

WSSC disinfects with chlorine and adds a corrosion inhibitor that coats pipes, including those on the customer side. The annual water quality report lists what's in the water.

What drives the price

• Square footage and the number of baths and water heaters
• Camera inspection of the sewer lateral
• Crawlspace or finished-basement access to piping
• Gas appliance count and venting checks

After you call

You'll be put in touch with an independent local plumber who serves Clinton. Mention the build year if you know it and what prompted the visit. Repairs that follow need a WSSC Water permit, since Prince George's County issues no plumbing permits, and WSSC requires gas appliance work such as a gas water heater swap to be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding its license. Clinton's gas utility is Washington Gas: if you smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1.