Burst Pipe Repair in Hyattsville, MD

Warning signs worth acting on

• Water dripping from plaster or a basement ceiling under a bathroom or kitchen
• Pressure suddenly fading at the sinks and shower
• Rust-colored water spraying from an old gray steel pipe
• A radiator room or back porch line that froze and now leaks
• Bubbling paint or a bulging ceiling patch
• Water on the basement floor near the front wall where the line comes in

Hyattsville's older housing and the water system

Hyattsville is one of the oldest inner-ring suburbs of Washington. Its National Register historic district has late-1880s Victorians and interwar Sears and Arts and Crafts bungalows, and the city's median home was built in 1963, with about half of the houses older than that. Houses of that age can still have galvanized steel supply lines that rust from the inside, old copper joints, and pipes routed through uninsulated porches, additions and outside walls. Those are the places that tend to split on a frigid night.

WSSC Water supplies water and sewer service in Hyattsville; the city has no separate water system. If you see water bubbling up in the street or around the meter, call WSSC's Emergency Service Center at 301-206-4002. A leak past the meter, in the basement or inside the walls is the homeowner's to fix with a private plumber.

What affects the price

• Plaster versus drywall. Opening and patching old plaster walls takes more care than modern drywall.
• Pipe condition. Corroded galvanized pipe often has to be replaced back to a sound joint, which can mean a longer section.
• Number of breaks. A hard freeze can open more than one crack along the same run.
• Permit needs. Bigger jobs, such as a water heater replacement, need a WSSC Water permit.
• Timing. After-hours and weekend calls usually cost more.

Once you're connected

An independent plumber who serves Hyattsville will ask where the water is coming from, whether the main is closed and what the pipe looks like. On site, they locate the break, open as little wall or ceiling as possible, replace the damaged section and check surrounding joints as the water comes back on. If they see widespread corrosion, they'll explain the option of replacing a longer run. Plumbing permits in Prince George's County come from WSSC Water, and building permits are a county matter, since Hyattsville has no city permits office.