Temple Hills homes are mostly 1950s to 1970s construction, and a hidden leak usually shows up as a higher WSSC Water bill, a meter that moves with the house quiet, or a water stain that won't stop spreading. A plumber can test the aging plumbing in sections to find the leak. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Temple Hills.
Temple Hills homes and hidden leaks
Temple Hills is a mostly residential community of garden apartments, duplexes and single-family homes, built mainly from the 1950s through the 1970s; its median home dates to 1973. That means many plumbing systems are more than 50 years old. The mailing name covers a wider area than the community itself. Original pipe, worn valves and joints that have expanded and contracted through decades of winters are typical leak sources, and in duplexes and apartments a leak can start on one side of a shared wall and show up on the other.
What to do right now
- Turn off all water-using fixtures and appliances and check whether the meter is still moving.
- If water is coming through a ceiling or across a floor, close the main shutoff valve.
- If you rent or share a wall, tell your landlord or neighbor right away.
- Put towels or a bucket under drips and move valuables out of the way.
- For water bubbling up in the street or at the curb, call WSSC Water at 301-206-4002.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Ceiling stain under a bathroom | Leaking toilet seal, tub drain or shower valve |
| Meter moving, no visible water | Leak in the yard line, a wall or under a floor |
| Stain on a shared wall | Leak in the adjoining unit's plumbing |
| Rusty water at one tap | Corrosion in older pipe serving that fixture |
| Hissing near the water heater | Relief valve or fitting leak |
What affects cost
The more time it takes to find the leak, the more it costs. A leak at a fixture is quick; one inside a wall, under a floor or on the yard line takes longer and may need listening or pressure-testing equipment. In older homes, a plumber may find more than one weak spot. Who pays depends on where the leak is: WSSC Water owns the service line from the main to the property line, and the homeowner owns the part from the property line into the home. Service line repairs, repiping and gas work must be done by a professional holding the proper WSSC license.
Leak Detection questions in Temple Hills
Are older homes here more prone to hidden leaks?
Who is responsible for a leak between the street and my house?
Should I shut off the main water valve while I wait?
Will finding the leak mean opening walls or ceilings?
More plumbing services in Temple Hills
Leak Detection nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: