Leak Detection in Suitland, MD

Is a high WSSC bill a sign of a hidden leak?

It's often the first one. A bill that jumps while your household routine stays the same means water is going somewhere. Test it yourself: turn off every faucet, toilet, the washer and the dishwasher, then check the meter. If it keeps moving, you have a leak. If it holds still, the higher bill may come from seasonal use or a toilet that only runs now and then; dropping food coloring into the tank will reveal a slow flapper leak within about fifteen minutes.

Whose pipe is leaking, mine or WSSC's?

Suitland is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, about 6 miles from downtown Washington, and WSSC Water supplies both its water and sewer service. WSSC is responsible for the part of the service line that connects to its main, and the customer owns the part that runs from the property line into the home. If water is coming up in the street or at the curb, call WSSC's Emergency Services Center at 301-206-4002. A leak in your yard between the property line and the house, or anywhere inside, is for a plumber, and service line repairs must be done by a plumber who holds a WSSC license.

Do older Suitland homes leak more often?

Age is a real factor. Suitland grew quickly after federal offices arrived during World War II, and the median home here was built around 1973, so many houses still have original-era supply and drain piping. Over decades, joints loosen, valves seize or drip, and older pipe can thin from the inside. Leaks in these homes tend to hide behind basement paneling, inside walls around tub and shower valves, or under kitchen floors. A plumber can test the system in sections to find the weak point instead of replacing pipe at random.

A Suitland note

Garden apartments and townhouses share walls and sometimes plumbing, so a stain in your unit may start next door or upstairs. If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager about the leak right away. If you own, note when the stain appears, whether it gets worse after a neighbor showers, and what the meter shows; those details help the plumber narrow things down quickly.