Most Upper Marlboro addresses are outside the small incorporated town, in a large postal area mixing newer developments with horse-farm countryside, and the median home dates to about 1982. A dripping or leaking faucet usually needs a cartridge, washer or seal. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Upper Marlboro.
About Upper Marlboro
The Town of Upper Marlboro is the county seat and has only a few hundred residents, but the Upper Marlboro postal area covers about 77 square miles, from the courthouse and The Show Place Arena out past the Western Branch of the Patuxent River. Settings range from the historic town center along Main Street to growing developments in places like Westphalia, so a call could involve almost any style of faucet. WSSC Water runs mains serving customers in the area, with chlorine disinfection, ultraviolet treatment at its plants and an orthophosphate corrosion inhibitor. Outlying rural parcels may differ, so check your bill to see whether you are on WSSC water.
Steps to take
- Turn off the water to the faucet. Use the valves under the sink, turning them clockwise.
- Use the main if you have to. If those valves fail, close the main shutoff where the line enters the house, or the valve near the pressure tank if your home has its own well.
- Check the aerator. Unscrew and rinse it if flow is weak or uneven.
- Find the leak. Dry the cabinet and watch where water reappears.
- Collect information. Note the brand, the number of handles and your water source.
Common symptoms
| You notice | Most likely |
|---|---|
| Spout drips after closing | Worn cartridge or washer |
| Puddle at the base | Spout or body O-rings |
| Pull-down head leaks | Worn hose or spray head seal |
| Grit in the aerator | Sediment after supply work, or from a private well |
| Outdoor faucet drips or leaks inside | Worn washer or a freeze-damaged stem |
What affects cost
- Repair or replace. Parts kits cost less than a new faucet.
- Distance and access. Barn, garden and detached-garage faucets on larger properties take longer.
- Water source. Sediment from a well may mean flushing lines as well as fixing the faucet.
- Underside condition. Seized stops or corroded hardware add parts and labor.
Prince George's County says replacing existing plumbing fixtures generally does not require a permit; water heaters and testable backflow devices are the exceptions. WSSC Water issues all plumbing permits in the county, and the Town of Upper Marlboro points residents to Prince George's County DPIE for building permits. For a WSSC water emergency, call 301-206-4002.
Faucet Repair questions in Upper Marlboro
Do I need a permit to replace a faucet?
Who supplies my water, and who do I call if water won't stop?
My home has its own well. Does that change faucet repair?
Why does my faucet keep dripping after I shut it off?
More plumbing services in Upper Marlboro
Faucet Repair nearby
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