A slab leak in Temple Hills is a supply pipe leaking under concrete, whether a basement floor, a duplex lower level or a garden apartment slab. WSSC Water owns the service line to the property line, and everything past it, including pipe under the floor, belongs to the owner. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Temple Hills.
Temple Hills is mostly garden apartments, duplexes and single-family neighborhoods built from the 1950s through the 1970s, and the median home dates to about 1973. The Temple Hills mailing address also covers areas beyond the community's own boundaries. Plumbing in houses this age is often original, which means 50 or more years of wear on pipe that runs under or through concrete. In a duplex or garden apartment, a leak under one unit's floor can also show up next door first, so a neighbor's damp wall or sudden mold is worth taking seriously. If you rent or belong to an association, let the owner or manager know early.
First steps
- Run a meter test. Turn off every faucet and appliance, then watch the WSSC meter's leak indicator for several minutes.
- Check fixtures. Rule out toilets, the water heater relief valve and outdoor spigots.
- Isolate the house. Close the main shutoff inside. If the meter still moves, the leak is on the yard line; if it stops, look inside.
- Feel for heat. A warm patch on a hard floor suggests a hot water line.
- Call WSSC for street-side leaks. Water rising near the curb or meter goes to WSSC Water's emergency line, 301-206-4002.
- Protect belongings. Move items off damp floors and ventilate the area.
What the symptoms usually mean
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Warm strip across a tiled floor | Hot line leaking along its buried path |
| Meter moving with the house valve closed | Service line leak between meter and house |
| Rusty water and falling pressure | Corroded galvanized supply pipe |
| Damp spot after laundry or showers only | Drain line under the floor rather than supply |
| Water heater cycling more than usual | Hot water escaping through a hidden leak |
Cost factors
- Time spent isolating and pinpointing the leak
- Whether the floor is opened or the line is rerouted overhead
- Flooring and finished-basement restoration
- Coordination with an association in duplexes and apartments
- A WSSC Water permit where needed; WSSC also requires a plumber holding its license for service line repairs and interior re-piping
Because so much local pipe is original, ask the plumber whether a single repair makes sense or whether the rest of the run is close behind.
Slab Leak Repair questions in Temple Hills
Are older pipe materials more likely to leak under a floor?
Should I call the water utility or a plumber first?
How does a plumber find a leak under concrete without breaking up the floor?
Will homeowners insurance pay for a slab leak?
More plumbing services in Temple Hills
Slab Leak Repair nearby
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