When a toilet in Fort Washington overflows, shut the valve behind it and stop flushing; running and leaking toilets usually come from worn flappers, fill valves or wax rings. Fort Washington is served by WSSC Water for water and sewer, and its median home dates to about 1980. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.
Fort Washington was rural until about 1960 and grew into a Potomac riverfront suburb with neighborhoods such as Tantallon and Fort Washington Forest. The median home was built around 1980, so many toilets and supply valves are original or have been replaced only once. WSSC Water supplies water and sewer service, and its emergency line, 301-206-4002, handles sewer backups and water main problems in the street.
What to do right now
- Close the supply valve. Turn the valve on the wall behind the toilet clockwise. If it's stuck, lift the float arm inside the tank and close the main.
- Hold off on flushing. Give a clog a chance to drain before trying a plunger, and never flush to test it.
- Use a flange plunger. A bell-shaped plunger with an extended cup seals in the toilet outlet better than a flat sink plunger.
- Skip chemical drain openers. They rarely clear a toilet and can harm older pipes and the person who works on the line next.
- Test another drain. If a tub or a basement floor drain backs up too, the blockage is downstream of the toilet.
- Call WSSC if it's outside. Sewage from a manhole or affecting neighbors goes to 301-206-4002.
- Call a plumber if the toilet won't clear or leaks at the base.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Ghost refills when no one flushed | Worn flapper or flush valve seat |
| Constant hiss from the tank | Fill valve not shutting off, or float set too high |
| Puddle at the base after flushing | Wax ring failure or loose closet bolts |
| Bowl drains slowly, then clogs | Partial blockage in the trapway |
| Several drains slow at once | Blockage in the main drain or lateral |
| Wet floor with no leak at the base | Tank condensation or supply line drip |
What affects the cost
- Whether the fix is a tank part or requires lifting the toilet
- Condition of the flange and subfloor beneath it
- Clog depth and whether a camera is needed to find it
- Replacing an old shutoff valve or supply line at the same visit
- Choosing a new toilet instead of repairing the old one
Prince George's County says replacing an existing fixture generally does not need a permit, and WSSC issues plumbing permits when work does require one.
Toilet Repair questions in Fort Washington
The bowl is rising toward the rim. What do I do right now?
The toilet refills on its own every so often. What is going on?
The toilet and a basement drain backed up together. Who should I call?
Why does it take two flushes to clear the bowl?
More plumbing services in Fort Washington
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