District Heights is a small, built-out city on WSSC Water, so WSSC handles water, sewer and all plumbing permits, while building permits follow the county's split of duties with the city. Much of the housing dates to the 1940s and the median home to 1968, so older piping shapes most commercial jobs. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in District Heights.
Local conditions in District Heights
District Heights began as farmland and filled in with Cape Cod-style homes in the 1940s, built with FHA financing, followed by later apartments and small commercial buildings. The city lies near MD Route 4, with Walker Mill to the north and Forestville to the southeast. Older supply and drain piping is common, and small commercial buildings and apartment houses often share a single building drain that has carried decades of use.
Prince George's County's DPIE issues no plumbing permits; WSSC issues and inspects them, with a satellite office at DPIE (Permit Services 301-206-4003). Water heater replacements and testable backflow devices need a permit even though like-for-like fixture swaps generally don't. Because District Heights is a municipality, DPIE publishes a matrix showing which building permit duties belong to the county and which to the city. WSSC also requires a professional holding its license for service line repairs, repiping and all gas work, including gas water heaters and furnaces.
Testable backflow assemblies on irrigation, fire sprinkler lines and chemically treated boilers must be tested every year and after installation, repair or relocation by a certified cross-connection technician with a WSSC license; the county cross-connection line is 301-206-8601. WSSC owns the water service line from the main to the property line, and the owner is responsible from there in. Washington Gas serves the county, with BGE in some areas. If anyone smells gas, leave the building, then call 911 and 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1.
Options for older systems
| Problem | Targeted fix | Bigger fix |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring drain backups | Cable or jet the line and camera it | Replace the broken or bellied section |
| Rusty water, weak flow | Replace the worst runs near fixtures | Repipe supply in copper or PEX |
| Leak on the private service line | Repair at the leak | Replace the line from property line to building |
| Aging water heater | Replace valves or controls | New unit sized for current use |
Signs to look for
- Several drains slowing at once
- Rust or sediment in the water after it sits
- Damp floors near the service entry or heater
- A water bill that rises without explanation
Timing notes
Cold snaps expose weak points in older buildings, especially pipes along exterior walls and in crawlspaces. Spring is a good time for backflow tests and camera inspections before summer storms load the drains.
Commercial Plumbing questions in District Heights
Is there a separate building permit step for commercial plumbing work?
Where does the utility's part of the water line end and ours begin?
Does a boiler or fire sprinkler line need backflow protection?
What details help a plumber before a commercial service call?
More plumbing services in District Heights
Commercial Plumbing nearby
Sources
- WSSC Water: about us
- WSSC Water annual water quality report
- WSSC Water: cross-connection control and backflow
- Prince George's County DPIE: residential plumbing permits
- WSSC Water: service lines
- WSSC Water Permit Services: information for homeowners
- Washington Gas: service territory
- Washington Gas: natural gas safety
- District Heights housing by year built
- District Heights, Maryland (Wikipedia)
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