Plumbing service in Maryland
Call NowMaryland plumbing ranges from Baltimore rowhouses with original cast-iron stacks to Washington-area suburbs and low-lying Eastern Shore homes on wells and septic.
Maryland weather and your plumbing
Maryland has hot, humid summers and cold winters, colder in the western mountains. Nor'easters, tropical storms and intense summer thunderstorms bring heavy rain, and tidal flooding affects Chesapeake Bay communities.
Season by season in Maryland
- Winter
- Pipes in rowhouse rear additions and on exterior walls freeze during cold snaps.
- Summer storms
- Intense rain overwhelms older sewers and backs up basement drains in Baltimore and older suburbs.
Problems the Maryland climate causes
Basement sewer backups
Cause: Intense rain on aging sewers.
Result: Sewage comes up through basement floor drains.
Do: Ask about a backwater valve and keep the basement drain clear.
Old cast-iron stacks
Cause: Not weather-driven.
Result: Original cast-iron drain stacks in rowhouses corrode and leak.
Do: Have the stack inspected before remodeling a bathroom or basement.
Housing in Maryland
Baltimore's rowhouses, many built before 1940, often have original cast-iron drain stacks and galvanized supply lines. Montgomery and Prince George's County suburbs are mostly post-war and newer, and Eastern Shore homes from Easton to Salisbury often have their own well and an on-site system near the bay.
Where calls are covered in Maryland
- Covered ZIP codes
- 442
- Cities and towns with coverage
- 364
Most covered ZIP codes
- Baltimore · 25 ZIPs
- Silver Spring · 7 ZIPs
- Bethesda · 6 ZIPs
- Hyattsville · 5 ZIPs
- Gaithersburg · 5 ZIPs
- Annapolis · 5 ZIPs
- Frederick · 5 ZIPs
- Laurel · 4 ZIPs
Check whether your exact Maryland ZIP code is covered (coverage changes over time)
Maryland questions
Who licenses plumbers in Montgomery and Prince George's counties?
WSSC issues plumbing licenses for work in its service area, in addition to the State Board of Plumbing.
Why does my Baltimore rowhouse drain smell?
A dry trap, a cracked cast-iron stack or a blocked vent can all let sewer gas in. A plumber can trace the source.
How do I check a plumber's license in Maryland?
The Maryland State Board of Plumbing licenses master and journey plumbers and gas fitters. Baltimore County and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) issue their own licenses for their areas, with reciprocity arrangements.