Leak Detection in Gaithersburg, MD

Local conditions in Gaithersburg

WSSC Water runs the water mains and sewers in Gaithersburg; the city does not operate its own water system. With the typical house built around 1989, the common trouble spots are original shutoff valves, compression fittings under sinks, water heater connections, refrigerator lines and the plumbing behind laundry boxes. Townhouses in the planned neighborhoods share walls, so a leak can show up first in the unit next door.

Permits come into play once the leak is found. WSSC Water handles plumbing permits and inspections, while the City of Gaithersburg issues building permits separately. WSSC's homeowner permit path excludes below-grade piping deeper than 4 feet and connections to WSSC service connections, so buried service line work goes to a plumber who holds the required WSSC license.

Where leaks hide and how they're found

Signs to act on

• Water use rising on two or more bills while your routine stays the same
• A meter that keeps moving after everything is turned off
• Warped flooring near a kitchen island, dishwasher or refrigerator
• A water heater that runs more often than it used to, which can point to a hot water leak
• Damp carpet along a basement wall with no rain to explain it

Timing and the seasons

Winter brings the most sudden leaks in Gaithersburg. Freezing nights split hose bibbs and pipes in exterior walls, and a frost-free spigot that froze with a hose attached often leaks inside the wall only once it is used again in spring. Spring start-up is also when irrigation leaks surface, and WSSC requires an annual test of testable backflow assemblies by a certified cross-connection technician. A quick meter check each spring and fall catches slow leaks before they cost months of water.