Lanham is a fully urbanized inner suburb on WSSC Water, so its homes are fed by public mains and do not have private well pumps. When water goes weak in a Lanham house, the cause is usually a worn valve, aging supply pipe or a leak on the owner's part of the service line. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lanham.
Local conditions in Lanham
Lanham sits along the Capital Beltway next to the New Carrollton Metro and Amtrak station, about 9 miles from downtown Washington, with residential streets mixed among office and commercial employers. The Lanham mailing address covers a wider area than the community itself, including Seabrook. WSSC Water provides water and wastewater service across Prince George's County, drawing from the Potomac and Patuxent rivers, so a well would be very unusual here.
The median home was built in 1969. Houses from that period often have their original main valve, original copper or galvanized supply lines and a pressure reducing valve that has been working for decades. WSSC Water owns the service line from the main to the property line; the owner is responsible from the property line into the home.
Comparing the likely causes
| Cause | How it shows up | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Main break or utility work | Sudden loss, neighbors affected | WSSC Water, 301-206-4002 |
| Partly closed or failing main valve | Weak everywhere, often after other work | A plumber |
| Pressure reducing valve wearing out | Low, or swinging high and low | A plumber |
| Old galvanized pipe | Gradual decline over years, rusty water | A plumber, sometimes repiping |
| Service line leak on your side | Wet yard, higher bill | A plumber |
Signs it is time to call
- Pressure fell across the whole house and the street is fine
- Rust-colored water from cold taps
- The meter moves with every fixture turned off
- A soggy patch of lawn that never dries out
- A basement sump or ejector pump that hums, cycles nonstop or won't start
Timing notes
Pressure problems often show up right after WSSC main work on a nearby street, when sediment and air move through the pipes; give it a short while and flush a cold tap before calling. If the pressure doesn't come back once the street work is finished, the problem is more likely on your side of the property line. Winter freezes split exposed pipes in garages and crawlspaces, and summer storms put basement pumps to the test. Plumbing permits here come from WSSC Water, not the county, and WSSC requires a plumber holding its license for service line repairs and interior repiping.
Well Pump Repair questions in Lanham
Pressure fell in every faucet at once and I'm on public water. What happened?
Who is responsible for the water line between the street and my house?
Is a sump pump or sewage ejector the same kind of job?
Who do I call when the problem is in the street or at the meter?
More plumbing services in Lanham
Well Pump Repair nearby
Sources
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