Plumbers in Capitol Heights, MD

Right where Northeast and Southeast meet

Capitol Heights began as a 1904 subdivision just past the District's eastern edge and was incorporated as a town in 1910. It sits about 6 miles from downtown Washington in a straight line, where Northeast and Southeast Washington meet, and the Capitol Heights Metro station on the Blue Line serves it. East Capitol Street becomes Maryland Route 214 here, and Central Avenue (MD 332), Southern Avenue, Marlboro Pike and Capitol Heights Boulevard are the main roads, with Seat Pleasant and Coral Hills next door. The 20743 ZIP code is far larger than the town and includes surrounding unincorporated areas.

Older homes, aging pipes

The median home here dates to about 1967, and the town's roots go back much further. In older houses, plumbers often find galvanized supply pipe that has lost flow, cast iron drain lines, sewer laterals worn by age and roots, and water heaters that need replacing along with their connectors and valves. If several fixtures drain slowly at once, or a basement drain gurgles, the main line to the street is the likely suspect.

Water and sewer: WSSC, not DC Water

WSSC Water provides water and wastewater service across Prince George's County, and Capitol Heights is part of it. At the very edge of the District, confirm by address, but town homes are WSSC customers with WSSC rules. WSSC disinfects with residual chlorine. It owns the water service line from the main to the property line; the owner has the part from the property line into the house. WSSC says it removed all known lead pipes from its distribution system, and its "What's Your Pipe Type?" map at wsscwater.com/LCR-map shows recorded customer-side materials, noting some customer-side galvanized lines need replacing. Water and sewer emergencies go to 301-206-4002.

Permits

• Prince George's County DPIE issues no plumbing permits. WSSC Water Permit Services (301-206-4003) issues and inspects them.
• A water heater replacement and any testable backflow device need a permit.
• Capitol Heights is a municipality, so for building permits check DPIE's county-versus-municipality responsibility matrix.
• WSSC requires a holder of its license for water and sewer service line repairs, interior repiping and all gas work, including gas water heater and furnace replacements.

Gas safety

Washington Gas serves Prince George's County, though some areas are BGE territory, so look at your bill. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and the Washington Gas Emergency Leak Line, 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside.

What changes when you cross the line

A block or two west, the same plumbing job would go through DC Water and the DC Department of Buildings. In Capitol Heights it goes through WSSC, and a plumber working here needs a WSSC license. When you call, give your street and describe what is happening, and you will be connected with an independent plumber who sets the price and timing with you.