Emergency Plumber in Takoma Park, MD

Why do old Takoma Park houses spring leaks at the worst time?

Takoma Park began as a Victorian-era commuter suburb in 1883, and its median home was built in 1954. Many houses in the historic district and along Carroll Avenue have been updated over the decades, yet a mix of copper, galvanized steel and cast iron in the same basement is common. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside and tends to fail at threaded joints, and old cast iron drains crack or fill with roots from the city's heavy tree canopy. A bitter night or a big storm is often what finally pushes a weak spot over the edge.

Who do I call for the street versus the house?

WSSC Water handles water and sewer in Takoma Park. A broken main, water pooling at the curb or a manhole overflowing goes to the WSSC Emergency Service Center at 301-206-4002. WSSC says part of the water service line belongs to the utility and part to the property owner, and it asks owners to let it know before replacing their section. A plumber handles everything on the private side, including the sewer lateral leaving the house.

What if the water heater is the problem?

A tank leaking from its shell is finished and should be shut down: close the cold supply and turn off the power or gas. WSSC reports average hardness of about 140 mg/L for water from its Potomac plant and about 64 mg/L from its Patuxent plant, and the plant serving a given address varies; either way, scale settles in tanks over the years. In Montgomery County, a gas water heater replacement needs a gasfitter holding a WSSC license and a WSSC permit, so even a same-day swap involves paperwork, which the plumber takes care of.

Gas and timing

Washington Gas serves Takoma Park. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside. Night and weekend visits usually cost more than weekday ones, and no arrival time is promised. Before the plumber gets there, clear a path to the basement, the main valve and any cleanout, move stored boxes off the floor, and take photos of the damage for your insurance company.