Emergency Plumber in Hyattsville, MD

When to treat it as an emergency

• A pipe that burst in a basement, crawlspace or wall and won't stop
• Sewage coming up through the basement floor drain or a first-floor tub
• A water heater leaking from its tank
• Water running through ceiling plaster in an older house
• A gas odor anywhere inside
• No water to the whole house after you hear a bang or hiss

Small drips and one slow drain can wait for business hours. Moving water and sewage should not.

Plumbing in an older inner suburb

Hyattsville's housing is older than most of the county: the median home was built in 1963, and about half are older than that. The historic district along and near Route 1 has late-1880s Victorians and interwar Sears and Arts and Crafts bungalows. Houses of that age can still have galvanized supply pipe, cast iron drains and old sewer laterals, and those materials tend to fail suddenly after years of slow wear. Old gate valves at the main can also refuse to close, so it's worth testing yours before an emergency.

The city has no water system of its own; WSSC Water supplies water and sewer, disinfecting with free chlorine. For a main break, a hydrant leak or a manhole overflowing in the street, call the WSSC Emergency Service Center at 301-206-4002.

Washington Gas serves the area, though a few Prince George's addresses are on BGE. For a gas smell, leave first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1.

What moves the price

• Time. After-hours calls usually cost more than a weekday booking.
• Plaster and old framing. Opening a plaster wall in a Victorian or bungalow takes more care than cutting drywall.
• Old materials. Galvanized or cast iron may need a longer section replaced, because the pipe next to the break is often in similar shape.
• Permits. Hyattsville has no city permit office; WSSC Water issues and inspects plumbing permits in the county, and replacing a water heater requires one.

What to expect on the phone

The call reaches an independent plumber who takes urgent work in Hyattsville. Share the address and a landmark, such as the Arts District, Hyattsville Crossing or the West Hyattsville Metro area, and say whether the main is closed. Ask about after-hours pricing first. No arrival time is promised, since it depends on the hour and the plumber's schedule.