Temple Hills is unincorporated Prince George's County, so WSSC Water handles water, sewer and every plumbing and gasfitting permit, and DPIE issues building permits. Much of the area was built from the 1950s through the 1970s, so garden apartment complexes and older retail centers often need work on 50-year-old plumbing. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Temple Hills.
Temple Hills at a glance
Temple Hills is mostly garden apartments, duplexes and single-family neighborhoods, including Marlow Heights and Hillcrest Heights, with retail around Iverson Mall and along Branch Avenue and St. Barnabas Road. The Temple Hills mailing address reaches well beyond the community itself. The median home dates to 1973, and many systems are past the 50-year mark.
What to do now
- Turn off water to the failed fixture, or the building or riser valve if the leak is bigger.
- Move people, stock and electrical equipment away from standing water.
- If there's a gas smell, leave the building, then from outside call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1.
- For a water main break or sewage coming from the street, call WSSC at 301-206-4002.
- Note which units or fixtures are affected, then call for a plumber.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Several apartments back up at once | Blockage or break in a shared building drain |
| Low pressure in upper units | Scaled galvanized lines or a failing pressure regulator |
| Rusty water after a shutdown | Corroded supply pipe being stirred up |
| Wet slab near a boiler or heater room | Leaking tank, relief valve or buried line |
| Sewer odor in a stairwell | Dry trap or cracked cast iron vent or drain |
WSSC owns the service line from the main to the property line, and the owner is responsible from there into the building. WSSC says it removed all known lead pipe from its distribution system in the early 2000s; its What's Your Pipe Type? program identifies customer-side materials, and some customer-side galvanized lines need replacement. The county's DPIE issues no plumbing permits. WSSC issues and inspects them (Permit Services 301-206-4003), and water heater replacements and testable backflow devices need one. Service line repairs, repiping and all gas work, including gas water heaters and furnaces, need a professional with a WSSC license. Backflow assemblies on boilers, fire lines and irrigation must be tested every year by a certified cross-connection technician; the county cross-connection line is 301-206-8601.
Cost factors
- How many units share the failed line
- Camera inspection or leak tracing first
- Pipe material and how much has to be replaced
- Coordinating shutdowns with residents
- Permits and inspections
Commercial Plumbing questions in Temple Hills
Do apartment owners, HOAs and property managers call commercial plumbers?
Can maintenance staff handle gas or water line work themselves?
How do we find out what our water service line is made of?
What winter problems hit commercial buildings in this area?
More plumbing services in Temple Hills
Commercial Plumbing nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- WSSC Water: about us
- WSSC Water annual water quality report
- WSSC Water: cross-connection control and backflow
- Prince George's County DPIE: residential plumbing permits
- WSSC Water: service lines
- WSSC Water Permit Services: information for homeowners
- Washington Gas: natural gas safety
- Temple Hills housing by year built
- Temple Hills, Maryland (Wikipedia)
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