Emergency Plumber in Lanham, MD

Lanham's plumbing picture

Lanham is an unincorporated inner suburb along the Capital Beltway beside New Carrollton, and its mailing address also covers Seabrook and nearby areas. The median home was built in 1969, so many houses are past the half-century mark with original or once-replaced supply pipes, drain stacks and valves. Older homes like these can have galvanized lines that narrow over time and cast iron drains that crack or root through.

WSSC Water supplies water and wastewater service. Its emergency line, 301-206-4002, handles main breaks, hydrant leaks and overflowing manholes. WSSC owns the water service line from the main to the property line, and the homeowner owns the part from the property line into the home.

Washington Gas serves the area, though some Prince George's addresses are on BGE. For a gas smell, leave, then call 911 and the Washington Gas Emergency Leak Line at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1, from a safe place.

Repair now or repair later?

Signs to watch for

• Brown or rusty water from cold taps, a common sign of corroding galvanized pipe
• Gurgling in a floor drain when upstairs fixtures drain
• A musty smell or soft drywall below a bathroom
• Pressure that drops sharply at every faucet

Seasonal timing

Cold snaps are the busiest time for burst pipes in exterior walls, crawlspaces and unheated rooms over garages. Summer storms bring basement drain backups. Any time of year, a water heater replacement in Prince George's County needs a WSSC permit, and gas appliance work has to be done by a qualified gasfitter.

When you call, give the address and a landmark such as Annapolis Road, Lanham Severn Road or Doctors Community Hospital, and say whether the main is closed. Ask about after-hours pricing up front. No arrival time is promised; it depends on the hour and who is available.