Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we're asked most across Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. Each service page carries its own detailed FAQ — this is the greatest-hits version.
Getting Service
- What happens if I call after hours?
- Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 am–4:30 pm. Outside those hours, leave us a message about the emergency and we will get back to you as quickly as we can — it goes to our own Annapolis office, not an out-of-state answering service.
- How does your pricing work?
- Flat rate, always. You approve a firm price before any work begins, so there's no hourly meter running. That applies to emergency calls too.
- Can you come out the same day?
- In most cases yes. Genuine emergencies — burst pipes, sewage backups, no water — go to the front of the schedule.
- Which areas do you serve?
- Annapolis and all of Anne Arundel County, plus Bowie and Stevensville. See our full service area for the complete list.
Emergencies
- What counts as a plumbing emergency?
- Water escaping faster than you can contain it, sewage entering the house, total loss of water, or the smell of gas. A slow drip can usually be scheduled.
- What should I do before you arrive?
- Shut off the water — the fixture valve for one fixture, the main shutoff for anything larger. If water is near outlets or the panel, cut power to that area at the breaker.
- What if I smell gas?
- Leave the building immediately and call the utility from outside. Don't switch anything electrical on or off. Once you're safe, call us.
- Where is my main shutoff?
- Usually where the supply enters the house — the basement, a crawl space, or near the meter. Find it now, while nothing is wrong, and check that it actually turns.
Water Quality & Local Conditions
- Is Annapolis water hard?
- Hard enough to scale water heaters and fixtures. It varies by neighborhood and whether you're on county water or a private well, which is why we test rather than guess.
- I'm on a well — do I need treatment?
- Very possibly. Anne Arundel County wells commonly carry iron, manganese and hardness. Only a water test tells you which, and the right system follows from the results.
- Do I need a sump pump?
- Near the Severn, Magothy, South River or on the Pasadena peninsula, usually yes. On higher ground, often not. We'll tell you honestly which applies.
- Why does my drain keep clogging?
- Because snaking punches through a blockage rather than removing the buildup on the pipe wall. Hydrojetting scours it back to bare pipe, which is why jetted lines stay clear far longer.
Permits & Compliance
- Do I need a permit?
- For most work beyond a like-for-like fixture swap, yes — and it needs inspection in Anne Arundel County. We handle permitting as part of the job.
- What if work isn't up to code?
- It surfaces later, during an unrelated inspection or a house sale, with a fine attached. It's the most avoidable expense in this trade.
- Do I need backflow testing?
- If you're on municipal water with irrigation, a boiler or fire suppression — almost certainly, annually, by law. Essentially all commercial premises do.
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Heidler, Inc. is a Maryland Master Plumber licensed company, fully insured, with every technician background-checked before entering your home.
Annapolis’ plumber since 1947
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