In Potomac, a plumbing inspection is a plumber's review of the water supply, drains, fixtures, water heater, backflow devices and gas connections. Because some Montgomery County properties are planned for private wells and onsite wastewater systems instead of public service, the first question is often which kind of system the house has. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Potomac.
Potomac grew from a farming community into an affluent suburb centered on Potomac Village, where Falls Road meets River Road, and older farmhouses still sit among newer developments. The median home was built around 1977. WSSC Water serves the public water and sewer areas, but Montgomery County gives every property a water category (W-1 to W-5) and a sewer category (S-1 to S-5), and some are designated for a private well and an onsite wastewater system maintained by the owner.
What to do now
- Confirm the property's water and sewer category with the County, or look at the seller's bills for WSSC charges.
- If the house is on a well, ask for the pump age and any water test results.
- If it's not on municipal sewer, ask for the onsite system's maintenance records and arrange that system's own inspection separately.
- Find the irrigation backflow device and ask for its last test record.
- Note water heater ages; larger homes often have two.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Pressure that rises and falls while a shower runs | Well pump or pressure tank problem, on well properties |
| Hot water runs out quickly in a large house | Undersized or aging water heater, or a failing dip tube |
| Slow drains on the lowest level | Partial blockage in the building drain |
| Sprinkler zone leaking at the valve box | Worn backflow assembly or a freeze-damaged part |
| Dripping relief valve on the water heater | High pressure or thermal expansion with no expansion tank |
Irrigation is common here. WSSC requires testable assemblies, such as pressure vacuum breakers and reduced-pressure units, to be tested every year and after installation, repair or relocation, only by a plumber who is a WSSC-certified cross-connection technician. Non-testable dual checks and boiler devices must be rebuilt or replaced every five years.
Cost factors
- House size, number of baths and number of water heaters
- Well equipment to check, on properties that have it
- Irrigation and other backflow devices on site
- Adding a camera run of the building drain
- Gas piping to review on homes with several gas appliances
Gas water heater, furnace and appliance replacements must be done by a WSSC-registered plumber or gasfitter. Washington Gas serves Montgomery County, while BGE serves parts of it, so go by your gas bill. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1, or your own gas utility.
Plumbing Inspection questions in Potomac
What changes if the property isn't on public water or sewer?
Will the plumber check backflow devices on irrigation or fire sprinklers?
Does the inspection cover gas piping, and what if I smell gas?
How do I confirm which water utility serves the address?
More plumbing services in Potomac
Plumbing Inspection nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Montgomery County DEP: Public water and sewer service
- WSSC Water: Backflow prevention and cross-connection control
- WSSC Water: Permit information for homeowners
- Potomac housing (city-stats.com)
- Washington Gas: Gas safety
- Maryland Office of People's Counsel: Your local gas companies
- Wikipedia: Potomac, Maryland
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