Plumbers in Clinton, MD

Old Surrattsville, newer houses

Clinton grew from the Surrattsville crossroads, renamed Clinton in 1879 and best known for the Surratt House Museum, tied to the Lincoln assassination. It is a census-designated place with no town government, roughly 12 miles from downtown Washington in a straight line, bordered by Camp Springs, Rosaryville and Joint Base Andrews. Piscataway Road and Old Alexandria Ferry Road run through it. The median home here was built around 1987, well after most inner-Beltway communities filled in.

Water and sewer from WSSC

WSSC Water provides drinking water and wastewater service across Prince George's and Montgomery counties, and that includes Clinton, though some outlying rural parcels may differ, so check your bill if you are near the edges. WSSC treats Potomac River water at its Potomac plant and Patuxent River water from the Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett reservoirs at its Patuxent plant. Residual chlorine is the disinfectant, and a corrosion inhibitor is added to protect pipes, including those on customer property. Water and sewer emergencies go to WSSC at 301-206-4002; billing and general questions go to 301-206-4001.

WSSC owns the water service line from the main to the property line. From the property line into the house, the line belongs to the owner, so a leak in the yard on your side is a plumber's job. WSSC's "What's Your Pipe Type?" program maps customer-side materials at wsscwater.com/LCR-map, and some customer-side galvanized lines need replacing.

What newer homes need

With most houses dating from the 1980s and later, Clinton calls tend to involve water heaters reaching the end of their life, worn valves and fill parts, sump pumps, and drain lines that root intrusion or grease has narrowed. Older pockets along the main roads can still have galvanized or cast iron pipe, so a plumber will want to see what is in your basement or crawlspace before quoting.

Permits work differently here

Prince George's County DPIE says it issues no plumbing permits: WSSC Water Permit Services (301-206-4003) issues and inspects all of them, while DPIE handles building permits. A water heater replacement needs a permit, and so does a testable backflow device. WSSC also requires a holder of the proper WSSC license for water and sewer service line work, interior repiping and every gas job, including gas water heater and furnace replacement. Testable backflow assemblies, such as those on in-ground irrigation, must be tested every year; the county cross-connection line is 301-206-8601.

Gas leaks

Washington Gas serves Prince George's County, though some parts of the county are on BGE. If you smell gas, leave the house first. From a safe spot, call 911 and the Washington Gas Emergency Leak Line, 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1.

Compared with the District

Inside Washington, DC Water and the Department of Buildings split the roles. In Clinton, WSSC is the water utility and the plumbing permit office at once. Call, describe the problem and your street, and you will be connected with an independent plumber who quotes and schedules the work with you.