Emergency Plumber in Fort Washington, MD

If a pipe bursts or a drain backs up in a Fort Washington home, close the main shutoff first, and if you smell gas, get out before calling anyone. WSSC Water handles mains and street sewers here; a plumber handles the house and the lines on your lot. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.

Fort Washington stretches along the Potomac in southern Prince George's County and stayed rural until about 1960. Today it is mostly suburban, with neighborhoods like Tantallon and Fort Washington Forest, riverfront homes and marinas. The median home was built in 1980, so many houses are reaching the age when original water heaters, valves and supply lines start to wear out. WSSC also adds orthophosphate to coat the inside of pipes, including those on the customer's side, but no treatment stops a fitting from failing with age or a pipe from splitting in a hard freeze.

Steps to take now

Shut the main. It's usually in the basement or a utility room where the line enters from the street. Turn it fully clockwise.
Relieve the pressure. Open a faucet on the lowest level to drain what's left in the pipes.
Handle the water heater. If it's leaking, close its cold supply and turn the gas control to off or switch off its breaker.
Leave for any gas smell. Go outside, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1. If your bill comes from BGE instead, use BGE's number on that bill.
Call WSSC for street problems. A break in the road or an overflowing manhole goes to WSSC Water at 301-206-4002.
Document it. Take photos of the damage before cleanup for your insurer.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.

(202) 915-7612

Symptoms and likely causes

Symptom	Likely cause
Water dripping through a ceiling below a bathroom	Failed supply line, valve or drain joint
Basement drain overflowing during heavy rain	Overloaded or blocked sewer lateral
Puddle beside the water heater	Tank failure or relief valve discharge
Spraying pipe after a freezing night	Pipe split by ice in an exterior wall or garage
Irrigation backflow device leaking in spring	Freeze damage to the assembly

Cost factors

When you call. Nights and weekends usually cost more than a weekday slot.
Access. Finished basements and larger riverfront homes can mean longer runs of pipe to trace.
Scope. Stopping a leak is quicker than replacing a water heater or a sewer section.
Permits and qualifications. All plumbing permits in the county come from WSSC Water, and gas appliance replacements must be done by a WSSC-qualified gasfitter. Irrigation backflow assemblies are tested yearly by a certified cross-connection technician.

Emergency Plumber questions in Fort Washington

Where is the main water shutoff, and how fast should I close it?

Usually in the basement or utility room where the line enters from the street. Close it the moment water is spreading, then open a low faucet to drain the lines.

Which gas company serves my home, and which number do I call?

Washington Gas serves the area: leave, then call 911 and 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1. Some Prince George's addresses are on BGE, so check your bill.

Does an emergency water heater replacement need a permit here?

Yes. Prince George's County requires a permit, issued by WSSC Water, and a gas water heater must be replaced by a gasfitter holding a WSSC license.

Which plumbing problems can safely wait until a weekday?

A dripping faucet, a running toilet or a single slow drain. Spreading water, sewage, a leaking tank and any gas smell are worth a call now.