When a pipe lets go or sewage rises in a Silver Spring basement, stop the water at the main valve and keep people away from anything electrical near the wet area; if there is any smell of gas, leave the house before making calls. Then call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Silver Spring.
Silver Spring sits on the District's northern line, and its neighborhoods inside the Beltway, from Woodside Park to Long Branch and Lyttonsville, hold a lot of mid-century housing: the median home was built in 1964. Galvanized supply pipe, cast iron drains and tired basement plumbing are common in houses of that age, and they are frequent sources of after-hours trouble. WSSC Water provides both water and sewer service, and Washington Gas is the gas utility.
What to do right now
- Stop the water. Find the main valve, usually in the basement where the line comes through the front wall, and turn it clockwise until it stops.
- Cut power to the problem. Turn off the breaker for a leaking electric water heater, or set a gas unit's control to off. Stay out of standing water near outlets or appliances.
- Get out if you smell gas. Don't flip switches. From outside, call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), selecting option 1.
- Sort out whose problem it is. Water bubbling from the street or a sewer overflowing a manhole is a WSSC Water matter; its emergency line is 301-206-4002. Anything inside the house goes to a plumber.
- Stop using drains if sewage is coming up, and keep children and pets off the wet floor.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water pouring from a basement ceiling | A burst supply pipe or a failed fitting above |
| Sewage in the floor drain or lowest tub | A blockage in the house drain or the private sewer lateral |
| Rusty water and a puddle under the water heater | A tank that has corroded through |
| No flow from one line after a bitter night | A frozen pipe, often near an outside wall or hose bib |
| Rotten-egg odor near the furnace or range | A gas leak: leave and call from outside |
What affects the cost
The time of the call matters most, since nights, weekends and holidays usually cost more than a weekday visit. Access comes next: a pipe inside a finished ceiling or behind old plaster takes longer than one in an open utility room. Some fixes also bring permits. WSSC Water Permit Services issues plumbing and gasfitting permits in Montgomery County and inspects that work, and jobs such as a gas water heater replacement or a water or sewer service line repair have to be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC license. Ask the plumber to walk you through the charges before work starts.
Emergency Plumber questions in Silver Spring
Who owns the water line between the street and the house?
Our house is old. Are plumbing emergencies more likely?
Who do I call when water is bubbling up in the street or at the curb?
What should I have ready when I call?
More plumbing services in Silver Spring
Emergency Plumber nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: