Temple Hills was built mainly from the 1950s through the 1970s, so many faucets, shutoff valves and supply lines here are decades old, and a drip or leak often comes with a stuck valve underneath. Replacing a faucet generally needs no permit in Prince George's County. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Temple Hills.
A quick look at Temple Hills
Temple Hills is mostly residential, with garden apartments, duplexes and single-family homes built largely between the 1950s and the 1970s; the median home dates to about 1973. The Temple Hills mailing address stretches beyond the community proper, taking in parts of Marlow Heights and Hillcrest Heights. WSSC Water supplies water and sewer service with chlorine disinfection and a corrosion inhibitor for household pipes.
What to do now
- Shut off the faucet's water. Turn the valves under the sink clockwise. In a house this age they may be stiff; do not force them with a wrench if they will not move.
- Go to the main if needed. If the stops fail or start leaking, close the main valve. In a duplex or apartment, find out where the building or unit shutoff is.
- Catch the water. Set a bucket or towels under any leak and dry the cabinet so you can see where new water appears.
- Clean the aerator. For weak or sputtering flow, unscrew the tip and rinse it.
- Gather details. Note the faucet style and brand and whether the drip is hot, cold or both.
Symptoms and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Drip that will not stop | Worn washer and seat, or a failed cartridge |
| Leak under the handle | Packing or stem O-ring |
| Valve under sink leaks when turned | Dried packing in an old angle stop |
| Low flow at a single tap | Clogged aerator or a stop that no longer opens fully |
| Drip into the cabinet | Loose supply connection or a drain leak |
Cost factors
- A rebuild costs less than a new faucet when parts are available.
- Replacing old angle stops and supply lines adds parts and time.
- Corroded mounting hardware in older cabinets may need cutting.
- Specialty faucets, such as wall-mount or pull-down models, take longer.
- In a duplex or garden apartment, reaching a shared shutoff can add a step.
Prince George's County says replacing an existing fixture generally does not require a permit; water heaters and testable backflow devices are the main exceptions, and plumbing permits come from WSSC Water. A break on the street side goes to WSSC at 301-206-4002.
Faucet Repair questions in Temple Hills
Are older homes here harder on faucets?
Do I need a permit to replace a faucet?
Why does one faucet run weak while the others are fine?
How can I tell a faucet leak from a drain leak under the sink?
More plumbing services in Temple Hills
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