Once you spot a burst pipe in your Derwood home, close the main valve and steer clear of wet outlets and cords. A plumber can then find the split and replace the damaged pipe so water can be safely restored. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Derwood.
Derwood homes and water
Derwood is a suburban community between Rockville and Gaithersburg, near the Shady Grove Metro. About two-thirds of its housing units were built in the 1980s, and the median home dates to 1985. Many houses are still on their original supply lines and valves, which are now four decades old. WSSC Water provides water and sewer service.
Steps to take now
- Find the main valve, usually where the water line enters the basement or utility room, and close it.
- If water is near outlets or a power strip, stay out of it and cut the breaker from a dry spot.
- Open a faucet on the lowest floor so the pipes drain.
- Turn off the breaker for an electric water heater, or set a gas unit to pilot.
- Water in the street or at the meter goes to WSSC's Emergency Service Center, 301-206-4002.
- Photograph the damage before cleanup for any insurance claim.
What the signs point to
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Ceiling drip under a bathroom | Split supply line or failed fixture valve above |
| Water on the garage floor after a freeze | Pipe in the garage wall or ceiling froze |
| Water heater sitting in a puddle | Failed connector, valve or tank |
| All faucets lose pressure at once | Large break on the supply side |
| Wet ground between the street and the house | Break on the buried service line |
What moves the price
- How easy the break is to reach
- Pipe material and the condition of the surrounding pipe
- Whether several fittings or valves of the same age need replacing
- Digging on your side of the property line
- Night or weekend timing
WSSC owns the service line from the main to the property line, and the owner is responsible from there to the house. Service line repairs and gas appliance replacements must be done by a plumber or gasfitter registered with WSSC under a WSSC permit. If the home has in-ground irrigation, its backflow assembly needs a yearly test by a WSSC-certified cross-connection technician.
Before next winter, it is worth disconnecting garden hoses, closing and draining the supply to outdoor faucets, and adding insulation around any pipe that runs along the garage or rim joist.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Derwood
Water is coming up near the meter or in the street. Who do I call?
Does one burst pipe mean the whole house needs repiping?
Can an outdoor faucet split inside the wall without showing outside?
A pipe is frozen but has not burst yet. What should I do?
More plumbing services in Derwood
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