Faucet Repair in Bowie, MD

Signs a faucet needs attention

• A steady drip from the spout long after the handle is closed
• A handle that grinds, wobbles or has to be forced shut
• Water seeping out around the base or the handle stem
• A sputtering or uneven stream from one sink only
• Hot and cold that no longer mix the way they used to
• Damp cabinet floors or a supply line beaded with water

Two water systems in one city

The City of Bowie runs its own water system for neighborhoods the Levitt Corporation built in the early 1960s, including Somerset, Tulip Grove, Kenilworth, Overbrook, Whitehall and Yorktown, among others. That water comes from five wells in the Magothy, Patapsco and Patuxent aquifers and is treated to take out naturally occurring iron and manganese before chlorine is added. The rest of Bowie is on WSSC Water, which draws from the Potomac and Patuxent rivers. Your bill shows which one you have.

The split matters for a faucet call mainly when something goes wrong past the shutoff valves. City-system customers report water problems to Bowie Public Works at 301-809-2344, or after hours through the Police Communications Center at 240-544-5700. WSSC customers call 301-206-4002. Either way, problems inside the house are for a plumber, and plumbing permits throughout Bowie come from WSSC Water Permit Services.

The City also reports that Levitt homes were connected with copper service lines, so it has no lead service lines in its area. Older faucets themselves are a separate matter: a fixture several decades old may contain leaded brass and is a fair candidate for replacement.

What moves the price

• Rebuild or swap. A cartridge or washer kit is less work than removing a fixture and setting a new one.
• Brand and age. Parts for a common maker are easy to get; an obscure or discontinued faucet may push you toward replacement.
• Seized parts. Mineral deposits and corrosion can lock nuts and cartridges, adding labor.
• Valves and hoses. Stops that will not close and tired supply hoses are often replaced on the same visit.
• Cabinet access. Cramped vanities and disposals under kitchen sinks slow the job.

What to expect on the call

The number on this page is a referral line, not a plumbing company. You will be connected with an independent plumber who works in Bowie. Say which faucet is failing, whether it has one handle or two, and where the water appears. A phone photo of the faucet and the valves underneath helps the plumber bring the right part the first time.