When a pipe bursts in Lanham, close the main shutoff, then turn off power to any wet room. A plumber can locate the split, replace the damaged pipe and confirm nothing else is leaking before the water is turned back on. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lanham.
Lanham homes and the water system
Lanham is a fully built-out inner suburb along the Capital Beltway, and its median home was built in 1969. Much of the plumbing in those houses is original, so pipe, solder joints and shutoff valves have been in service for more than fifty years. That's old enough for copper to thin at elbows and for any remaining galvanized steel to be rusting inside. Combine that with a frigid night and a pipe on an outside wall, and a split becomes much more likely.
WSSC Water supplies water and sewer service. It owns the service line from the main to the property line, and the customer owns the section from the property line into the home. A break in the street or at the meter goes to WSSC's emergency line, 301-206-4002. The Lanham mailing address reaches beyond the community itself and takes in Seabrook, so check your bill if you're unsure who serves you. Plumbing permits come from WSSC, and it requires a plumber holding its license for service line repairs and interior repiping.
Patch it or replace more?
| What the plumber finds | Likely approach | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| One clean freeze crack | Splice in a new section | Surrounding pipe is in good shape |
| Burst supply hose or connector | Replace hose and stop valve | Old valves often won't close fully |
| Thin, pitted copper near the break | Replace the run back to sound pipe | A splice on weak pipe can leak again nearby |
| Galvanized steel with heavy corrosion | Replace the section or plan a repipe | Old steel tends to fail in more than one place |
Signs to watch for
- A sudden stain or drip on a ceiling below a bathroom
- Pressure collapsing at every fixture
- Water on the basement floor with no rain outside
- A thawed pipe that now hisses or sprays
- The water meter spinning with all taps off
Timing and seasonal notes
Most bursts in Lanham show up after a stretch of freezing nights, often when the ice thaws and water starts moving again. Plan ahead in late fall: unhook hoses, close any inside valve feeding outdoor faucets and insulate pipes in crawlspaces and garages. If you smell gas while handling the leak, leave the house and call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1. Some parts of Prince George's County are served by BGE instead, so check your gas bill.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Lanham
Does one burst pipe mean the whole house needs repiping?
Who pays to fix a break between the street and my house?
Can I thaw a frozen pipe myself?
Is it safe to step into a flooded basement?
More plumbing services in Lanham
Burst Pipe Repair nearby
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