About two-thirds of Derwood's homes were built in the 1980s, so most faucets are single-lever cartridge models, often with original shutoff valves underneath. Drips and leaks usually come from a worn cartridge or O-ring that a plumber can replace without changing the faucet. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Derwood.
Derwood is an unincorporated community just north of Rockville and southeast of Gaithersburg, near the Shady Grove Metro. WSSC Water provides public water and sewer across most of the area. WSSC is responsible for the service line from the main to the property line, and the homeowner owns the rest. Montgomery County gives every property a water and sewer category, so it's worth confirming your service if you're unsure.
Only about 15 percent of Derwood homes predate 1980, so old compression faucets are the exception here. The typical call is a single-lever kitchen faucet with a worn cartridge, a bathroom faucet with tired O-rings, or an outdoor spigot that cracked when a hose was left on over a cold night.
What to do now
- Turn off the stops. Close the valves under the sink. Original 1980s stops may be stiff or leak at the stem, so turn them gently.
- Find the main shutoff. Usually where the water line enters the house, often in the basement or utility room.
- Check under the sink. Dry everything, run the faucet and watch for drips at the hoses, valves and drain.
- Clean the aerator. If the problem is weak flow, unscrew and rinse the aerator first.
- Note the brand. Cartridges are specific to the faucet maker and model.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Drip from the spout | Worn cartridge or seals |
| Leak at the base | Worn O-rings |
| Stiff or gritty lever | Mineral buildup in the cartridge |
| Weak flow at one sink | Clogged aerator or partly closed stop |
| Puddle in the cabinet | Supply line, stop valve or drain leak |
| Outdoor faucet leaks inside | Freeze crack in the sillcock |
What affects the cost
- Rebuild or replace, and the style of any new faucet
- Availability of parts for older models
- Original stops and supply lines that need replacing
- Access around sinks, disposals and vanities
- Number of fixtures handled in one visit
Plumbing permits in Montgomery County come from WSSC Water, and most plumbing work has to be done by a plumber registered with WSSC Water. If you have in-ground irrigation, its backflow assembly needs an annual test by a WSSC-certified cross-connection technician, which is a good time to have outdoor faucets checked.
Faucet Repair questions in Derwood
Is it better to rebuild my faucet or replace it?
The shutoff valves under my sink are stuck. Should they be replaced?
Only one faucet has weak flow. What's going on?
Is a slow drip worth a service call?
More plumbing services in Derwood
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