Most Upper Marlboro addresses are outside the small county-seat town, in a large area that mixes newer subdivisions with countryside. A hidden leak usually shows up as a water bill that rises, a meter or pressure gauge that changes with nothing on, or a stain that keeps spreading. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Upper Marlboro.
Upper Marlboro at a glance
The Town of Upper Marlboro is the Prince George's County seat, home to only a few hundred residents and dominated by county government. The Upper Marlboro mailing area is far bigger, about 77 square miles of horse-farm countryside and growing developments around places like Westphalia and Brock Hall. WSSC Water runs water mains in the Upper Marlboro area, but service in the outlying rural parts varies by address, so check your bill to see whether you're on public water. The median home in the area dates to 1982, so leaks are as likely to come from aging fittings and fixtures as from the pipe itself.
What to do now
- Turn off every fixture and appliance, including any irrigation.
- Check the water meter, or the pressure gauge if you have a well, for movement.
- If water is damaging the house, close the main shutoff or switch off the well pump.
- Look for soggy ground along the line coming into the house.
- If you're on WSSC water and see water in the street, call WSSC at 301-206-4002.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Meter moving, nothing visible | Buried line leak or irrigation leak |
| Well pump cycling with no use | Leak between the well and fixtures, or a tank fitting |
| Stain under a bathroom | Toilet seal, drain or shower valve leak |
| Wet floor by the water heater | Fitting, relief valve or tank failure |
| Toilet refilling on its own | Worn flapper or fill valve |
What affects cost
Leaks that are easy to reach cost less to find. A long buried line on a large lot, a leak in a finished basement, or a search that needs acoustic or pressure-testing equipment takes more time. In Prince George's County, permits aren't generally needed to replace existing fixtures, but water heaters and testable backflow devices need one, and all plumbing permits come from WSSC Water. Service line repairs must be done by a plumber holding a WSSC license. When you call, mention the size of the lot, whether you have irrigation, and where the line enters the house, since that shapes the search.
Leak Detection questions in Upper Marlboro
How do I know which utility serves my address?
How do I check for a leak if my home is on a private well?
Do I need a permit to fix a leak once it is found?
Could the leak be in my irrigation system or an outdoor faucet?
More plumbing services in Upper Marlboro
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