If a pipe bursts in your Fort Washington home, close the main valve at once and keep clear of anything electrical that's wet. A plumber can locate the break, replace the damaged pipe and check for other weak spots along the run. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.
Fort Washington homes and their plumbing
Fort Washington was mostly rural until about 1960 and filled in with suburban homes after that; the median house dates to 1980. WSSC Water provides water and sewer service, and WSSC adds orthophosphate to coat pipe interiors, including household plumbing. Still, many homes here now have plumbing in its fifth decade, and riverfront and wooded lots off Livingston Road and Old Fort Road can mean long service lines and basements dug into slopes. A break in the street or at the meter goes to WSSC's emergency line, 301-206-4002.
Steps to take right now
- Shut the main. Look in the basement or utility room where the line comes through the wall, often near the water heater.
- Cut power to the wet area at the breaker, if you can reach the panel on dry floor.
- Open a low faucet to drain the pressure and remaining water from the pipes.
- Set the water heater to pilot or switch it off so it doesn't run empty.
- Move belongings and soak up water to limit damage to drywall and flooring.
- Photograph everything before cleanup for insurance.
- If you smell gas, leave first. From outside, call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1.
Signs and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water spraying in an unfinished basement | Frozen and split supply pipe or failed fitting |
| Ceiling stain under a bathroom that grows fast | Broken supply line or toilet connector |
| Water near the foundation where the line enters | Main valve or service line leak |
| Irrigation backflow device spraying in spring | Assembly cracked by freezing; needs a certified tester and repair |
| Hissing behind a wall with all taps closed | Pressurized leak inside the wall |
What determines the price
Expect the cost to turn on access, materials and scope. A split in exposed pipe is a short job; one behind finished walls means opening and patching. A break on the owner's section of a long yard line means digging. If the house has several aging fittings or a run of corroded pipe, the plumber may suggest replacing more than the burst length. After-hours calls also cost more. Irrigation backflow assemblies here have to be tested by a WSSC-certified cross-connection technician after repair.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Fort Washington
Can an outdoor spigot burst inside the wall?
Does repairing a burst pipe need a permit?
Water is gushing at the curb, the meter or in the street. Who do I call?
Does one burst pipe mean the whole house needs repiping?
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