Fort Washington is served by WSSC Water, so most homes along MD 210 and the Potomac shoreline get pressure from the public main and have no well pump. If your property does have a private well, the pump, pressure switch and tank are the usual failure points, and for everyone else a sudden loss of pressure usually has a simpler cause. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.
A quick local picture
Fort Washington is a Potomac riverfront suburb in southern Prince George's County that stayed rural until about 1960 and now mixes riverfront homes, marinas, Fort Washington Park and neighborhoods such as Tantallon and Fort Washington Forest. WSSC Water supplies the area, though address-level exceptions are possible, so a water bill is the best confirmation. The median home was built around 1980, which puts many original pressure valves, shutoffs and pump motors past middle age.
What to do right now
- Figure out your supply. A WSSC bill means public water. A well casing in the yard and a tank inside mean a private well.
- On public water, check the neighbors. If they are out too, call WSSC Water at 301-206-4002.
- On a well, read the tank gauge. Near zero with the pump silent points to the pump, its breaker or the pressure switch.
- Reset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off; that usually means a motor or wiring fault.
- Shut the pump off if it runs nonstop with no taps open, so it doesn't overheat while you wait for the plumber.
Symptoms and what usually causes them
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Switch clicks on and off every few seconds | Pressure tank waterlogged or bladder failed |
| Pump never shuts off | Leak in the system, failing pump, or low well output |
| Air spurting from faucets | Leak on the drop pipe or dropping water level |
| Weak pressure, public water | Pressure reducing valve, partly closed valve or service line leak |
| No water after a storm | Power surge damage to the pump control, or a utility outage |
WSSC adds orthophosphate to its water as a corrosion inhibitor that coats pipe interiors, which helps older copper and galvanized lines in public-water homes. It doesn't change anything about well equipment, which depends on the condition of the pump, the tank and the wiring that feeds them.
Cost factors
- Pump depth and type on a private well, and whether a crane or pump hoist is needed
- Replacing a switch or tank versus the pump itself
- Electrical repairs at the control box
- Digging to reach a leaking buried line
- A WSSC plumbing permit where the work requires one
Well Pump Repair questions in Fort Washington
Will I have water if the power goes out?
What is a pressure tank for, and what goes wrong with it?
The pump runs even though nobody is using water. Why?
Does well pump or pressure tank work need a permit here?
More plumbing services in Fort Washington
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