Emergency Plumber in Temple Hills, MD

Temple Hills is mostly residential, with garden apartments, duplexes and single-family neighborhoods built mainly from the 1950s through the 1970s near Branch Avenue and St. Barnabas Road. The median home was built in 1973, so many plumbing systems here are more than fifty years old. Older valves, drains and water heater connections are frequent sources of late-night calls.

What to do first

1. Close the main. Look in the basement or utility area where the water line enters. In an apartment, the shutoff may be under the sink, behind an access panel or controlled by management.
2. Drain the lines. Open the lowest faucet to let remaining water out.
3. Shut down the water heater if it's leaking. Close the cold supply and turn off its gas or breaker.
4. Leave for any gas smell. From outside, call 911 and the Washington Gas Emergency Leak Line at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1. Some county addresses are on BGE instead, so check the bill.
5. Know who owns the street side. WSSC Water's emergency line, 301-206-4002, handles main breaks and overflowing manholes.
6. Tell the neighbors in shared buildings. In a duplex or apartment, water can travel into the next unit quickly.

Symptom and likely cause

What moves the cost

• When you call. Evenings, weekends and holidays usually cost more.
• Who owns the pipe. WSSC owns the service line from the main to the property line; the owner pays for repairs from the property line into the home.
• Older materials. A fifty-year-old drain may need more than a spot repair.
• Permits. WSSC Water issues plumbing permits in Prince George's County, water heater replacements need one, and service line, repiping and gas work must be done by a pro holding a WSSC license.