Toilet Repair in Upper Marlboro, MD

Upper Marlboro is the Prince George's County seat, a small historic town surrounded by a much larger unincorporated postal area that mixes horse-farm countryside with growing developments. WSSC Water runs mains serving customers in the Upper Marlboro area, but service in outlying rural parts varies by address, so check your bill. The median home was built around 1982, and the area mixes countryside with newer developments, so many toilet calls here are worn original parts rather than failing pipes. Homes on the rural edges may have their own well and wastewater arrangements; if your house has a well, a running toilet also keeps the pump cycling, so fix it soon.

What to do now

1. Close the supply. Turn the valve behind the toilet clockwise. If it won't move, lift the float in the tank and shut the main.
2. Don't flush again. Give the bowl time to drain.
3. Plunge carefully. A flange plunger seals best. Avoid chemical drain cleaners.
4. Check other drains. If the tub or a basement drain backs up too, the problem is in the main line.
5. Know your system. If you're on WSSC sewer and sewage is coming up outside, call WSSC at 301-206-4002. If your home isn't on municipal sewer, limit water use until the cause is found.
6. Call a plumber for a clog that won't clear or any leak at the base.

Symptoms and likely causes

What affects the cost

• Tank parts versus pulling the toilet
• Flange or subfloor repairs
• Clearing a main line versus the bowl
• Replacing an old shutoff valve
• Rural distance and after-hours timing
• Choosing a new toilet

In Prince George's County, WSSC Water issues plumbing permits, and the county says replacing existing fixtures generally doesn't need a permit, except for items such as water heaters and testable backflow devices. The Town of Upper Marlboro points residents to the county for permitting.