Severna Park, MD · ZIP 21146 · Open 7 Days
Plumbing Questions Severna Park
Homeowners Actually Ask
These are the questions we actually get from homeowners in Severna Park and Anne Arundel County. Answered directly — no runaround. If your question isn’t here, call (667) 644-3080 and we’ll answer it the same way.
7 Days a Week
Licensed & Certified
Local Experts
Last Updated: September 2026
Who We Are
About Fitchet Plumbing
Is Fitchet Plumbing licensed in Maryland?
Yes. Fitchet Plumbing holds Maryland Board of Plumbing License #70218, verifiable at dllr.state.md.us. We also hold a separate Maryland gas fitter certification, which is required for gas line work in this state beyond a standard plumbing licence.
Who owns and operates Fitchet Plumbing?
Fitchet Plumbing is owned and operated by Tim Fitchet, who works in the field personally. When you call Fitchet Plumbing in Severna Park, the person who answers can tell you what’s happening and the person who shows up is a licensed plumber.
Do you work on weekends in Severna Park?
Yes — every Saturday and Sunday, same flat-rate pricing as weekday calls. No after-hours surcharge, no weekend premium. Call (667) 644-3080 any day.
Do you offer second opinions on major plumbing repair quotes?
Yes, and we encourage it. If another company quoted you a full sewer line replacement, whole-house repipe, or major system replacement and something felt off — call us. We provide honest second opinions. We don’t quote replacement without camera or physical evidence showing it’s necessary.
Pricing & How We Work
Will I know the price before you start work?
Always. We diagnose, explain what we found, and quote a flat price. You approve it before we start. The invoice always matches the quote.
Do you charge a diagnostic or estimate fee?
A service call fee covers the visit and diagnosis — typically $150–$300. If you proceed with the repair, that fee applies to the total. If you don’t proceed, you pay only the service call fee.
What is included in the quoted price?
Labor, parts for the quoted repair, and any required Anne Arundel County permits. For water heater replacements, the quote includes removal of the old unit, expansion tank if needed, new shut-off valve and flex connectors, permit, and written warranty.
Do you charge more for emergency plumbing on weekends in Severna Park?
No. The same flat rate applies every day of the week — weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
Do you accept referral fees from water damage restoration companies?
No. We tell homeowners to contact their insurance company directly and let the insurer send their own adjuster. We provide written documentation of the plumbing failure and repair for insurance claims.
System Specifics
Severna Park Water & Pipes
For more detail, see pipe types in Severna Park homes — full guide.
For related service information, see water heater repair vs replacement in Severna Park.
For related service information, see emergency plumber in Severna Park — how it works.
Does Severna Park have hard water?
Yes. The municipal water supply serving ZIP 21146 carries measurable mineral content — calcium and magnesium — from Chesapeake Bay watershed treatment. It leaves white scale on fixtures, shortens water heater life, narrows pipe interiors over time, and accelerates the depletion of water heater anode rods. A whole-home water softener addresses all of it.
What type of pipes do most Severna Park homes have?
Homes built before 1978: galvanized steel supply lines, cast iron drains. Homes built 1978–1995: likely polybutylene supply lines (grey or blue plastic) or copper. Homes built 1980s with certain builders: CPVC (cream rigid plastic). Homes built after 1995: copper or PEX supply, PVC drains. Look under any sink — the pipe material is visible at the connection point.
How do I know if I have galvanized pipes in my Severna Park home?
Run cold water at the furthest fixture from your main shutoff for 30 seconds. Yellow or brown tint in the first few seconds is rust from corroding galvanized supply lines. You can also look under a sink: galvanized is dull grey-silver metal with threaded joints.
What is polybutylene pipe and is it dangerous?
Polybutylene (PB pipe) is a grey plastic installed in homes built 1978–1995 that fails at fittings when exposed to chlorinated municipal water over time. It doesn’t fail dramatically — it fails incrementally at connection points, often inside walls. Severna Park homes from this period should be assessed to confirm whether polybutylene is present and in what condition.
Why does my water pressure keep dropping in my older Severna Park home?
Gradual pressure loss throughout a Severna Park home built before 1985 is almost always galvanized steel supply lines corroding from the inside — mineral deposits and rust progressively narrowing the pipe diameter. Pressure loss that started recently and is getting worse is a pipe assessment situation.
Why does my water heater make popping sounds in Severna Park?
Sediment from hard water accumulates at the bottom of the tank. The popping sounds are water trapped under the sediment boiling as the burner fires. Sediment flushing typically resolves it. If sounds persist after flushing, the tank liner may have localised damage.
Below Ground
Drains & Sewer
Why does my drain in Severna Park keep clogging every few months?
Recurring clogs are almost always root intrusion in cast iron sewer lines or hard water mineral scale on drain walls — both of which a snake clears temporarily without addressing the cause. A camera inspection identifies which problem you have and determines the right fix.
Do you run a camera before clearing a main sewer line in Severna Park?
Yes. On any main sewer line call, Fitchet Plumbing runs a camera inspection before recommending a clearing method. The cause determines the solution — root intrusion, mineral scale, and pipe bellies need different approaches.
Is drain cleaning guaranteed?
Drain cleaning clears the current blockage. It doesn’t prevent future blockages if the underlying cause — root intrusion, mineral scale, a pipe belly — isn’t also addressed. Where recurring blockage is likely based on what we find, we tell you upfront and give you options that address the root cause.
What is the difference between snaking and hydro jetting?
A snake breaks through a blockage. Hydro jetting (3,000–4,000 PSI water pressure) scours the pipe wall — removing mineral scale, grease buildup, and root masses more thoroughly. For recurring kitchen clogs or root intrusion, hydro jetting is the appropriate tool.
Can tree roots damage the sewer line in my Severna Park home?
Yes — root intrusion is the most common hidden sewer problem we find on camera inspections in Severna Park. The mature trees throughout Chartwell, Severna Forest, Olde Severna Park, and the B&A Trail corridor have been growing for 40+ years and have found the joint failures in original cast iron sewer lines from the 1960s–70s.
Sump Pumps
My sump pump is running constantly — is something wrong?
Nonstop pump operation in dry conditions means a stuck float switch, a failed check valve sending water back into the pit, or a discharge line issue. During heavy spring rain near the Severn or Magothy River drainage, frequent cycling is normal — the groundwater table is genuinely high. Continuous in dry weather: call us.
Do I need a battery backup sump pump in Severna Park?
If your home is near Round Bay, Ben Oaks, Linstead on the Severn, Cape Arthur, or any low-lying area — yes. The storms that raise groundwater in Severna Park also knock out power. A battery backup activates automatically when grid power fails.
How do I test my sump pump before spring in Severna Park?
Pour a five-gallon bucket of water into the sump pit slowly. The pump should activate and cycle fully off before the pit is full. Then go outside and confirm water is actually flowing from the discharge pipe. If the pump doesn’t activate or water doesn’t exit the discharge line, call us before spring arrives.
Compliance & Safety
Permits & Compliance
For related service information, see Anne Arundel County permit requirements.
What plumbing work requires a permit in Anne Arundel County?
Water heater replacements, sewer line repair or replacement, whole-house repiping, gas line work (new lines and significant repairs), and backflow preventer installation all require permits in Anne Arundel County. Minor repairs — toilet, faucet, drain cleaning — typically do not. Fitchet Plumbing pulls all required permits.
Why does it matter whether plumbing work is permitted in Severna Park?
Unpermitted work on systems that require permits can void your homeowner’s insurance coverage for related failures and creates a disclosure obligation when you sell the property. Home inspectors routinely flag unpermitted mechanical work. The permit protects you, not just the code.
Do you pull permits for water heater replacement in Anne Arundel County?
Yes. Water heater replacement requires a permit in Anne Arundel County. Fitchet Plumbing pulls the permit on every replacement — it’s included in the quoted price.
Emergencies
What should I do if a pipe bursts in my Severna Park home?
Turn off the main water shutoff valve immediately. Open all faucets to release pressure. Turn off the water heater. Then call (667) 644-3080. Do not use electrical switches or outlets in rooms where water is present.
Where is the main water shutoff valve in a Severna Park home?
In most Severna Park homes built between 1960 and 1995 the main shutoff is in one of three locations: in the crawlspace near where the supply line enters the home, in a utility room near the water heater, or in a small exterior box near the front of the property. If you don’t know where yours is, we’ll show you on our next visit.
What should I do if my pipes freeze in Severna Park?
Turn off the main water shutoff immediately. Open all faucets. Apply a hair dryer — never a torch — to the frozen wall section. After the thaw, check every fixture for leaks before turning the shutoff back on fully. Call (667) 644-3080 if a pipe has burst.
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Available 7 days a week · Direct Answers · Flat-Rate Pricing · MD License #70218