Slab Leak Repair in Chevy Chase, MD

Signs worth testing for

• The meter's leak indicator moves while the whole house is idle
• White mineral deposits or a damp ring on the basement floor away from any drain
• A water bill that keeps climbing without a change in use
• Low pressure at one fixture group while the rest of the house is normal
• A warm section of a tiled basement bath or mudroom floor

Older basements can also take on water from outside during heavy summer storms, so a meter test is the fastest way to tell groundwater from a pressurized pipe.

Local conditions in Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase began in the 1890s as a streetcar suburb along Connecticut Avenue, laid out by the Chevy Chase Land Company with single-family homes. In ZIP 20815, roughly two-thirds of homes predate 1980, and more than 2,600 were built in 1939 or earlier. Houses that old often have a patchwork of galvanized steel, early copper and later repairs, with the incoming service line and some branches set under the basement slab.

The area is a mix of an unincorporated community and several small incorporated towns and villages. WSSC Water issues the plumbing permit and inspects the work. The Town of Chevy Chase requires its own permit for larger projects and won't approve it until the Montgomery County permit is issued, so a repair that grows into a renovation can involve three offices.

What drives the cost

• Locating. Old homes with many past repairs can take longer to trace.
• Method. Cutting the slab for a single fix versus running new pipe through the basement ceiling or walls.
• Scope. If the surrounding pipe is corroded, replacing a longer run may be the sensible call.
• Finishes. Stone, tile and finished basements add restoration work.
• Approvals. A WSSC permit, and town and county permits if the job becomes construction.

When you call

The call is routed to an independent plumber who works in Chevy Chase. Share the approximate age of the house, which town or village you live in if any, and what you've seen at the meter. If water is spreading, close the main shutoff first. Leaks in the street or at the meter go to WSSC's Emergency Service Center at 301-206-4002.