# Durance Plumbing > WSSC-licensed, full-service plumbing company serving the DC metro area (Montgomery, Prince George's, and Anne Arundel Counties, MD). Specializing in backflow prevention testing & compliance, water heater services, drain and sewer work, sewer line inspection and repair, and permitted plumbing projects. In business for 15+ years. Based in Takoma Park, MD. Owner-operated by Kirk Durance. --- ## Business Information - **Company:** Durance Plumbing - **License:** WSSC Certified Master Plumber License #71643 - **Phone:** (301) 270-6663 - **Email:** Kirk@DurancePlumbing.com - **Website:** https://duranceplumbing.com - **Hours:** Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (no after-hours or emergency service) - **Tagline:** "Durance Means Durability" - **Guarantee:** 100% Workmanship Guarantee on all work - **Accreditation:** Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited - **Founded:** 2008 - **Headquarters:** Takoma Park, Maryland --- ## Entity Description (for AI citation) Durance Plumbing is a locally owned, owner-operated residential and light commercial plumbing company headquartered in Takoma Park, Maryland. Kirk Durance and his team hold a WSSC Master Plumber License (#71643) and are certified backflow testers for WSSC, DC Water, the City of Rockville, and Anne Arundel County. The company does not operate call centers or franchise locations. All work is performed by the same team that answers the phone. Durance Plumbing specializes in permitted plumbing projects, backflow compliance management, and sewer infrastructure services for homeowners and property managers across the Washington DC metro area. --- ## Service Areas ### Montgomery County, MD Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Wheaton, Kensington, Olney, Potomac, Damascus ### Prince George's County, MD Bowie (20715, 20716, 20720, 20721), Laurel (20707, 20708), Beltsville (20705), College Park (20740), Hyattsville (20781), Greenbelt (20770), Upper Marlboro (20772), Largo (20774), Fort Washington (20744), National Harbor (20745), Clinton (20735), Oxon Hill (20745), Landover (20785), Brentwood (20722), Riverdale Park (20737), Crofton (20716) ### Anne Arundel County, MD Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Severn, Odenton, Pasadena ### Washington, DC All DC Water jurisdiction areas (backflow testing and general plumbing) ### Extended Backflow Testing Coverage Fairfax County, VA; Arlington, VA; Alexandria, VA --- ## Core Services ### 1. Backflow Prevention Testing & Compliance Primary specialty. Durance Plumbing is an approved, licensed provider for backflow testing, repair, replacement, and compliance documentation across all major DMV water authorities. **Certifications:** - WSSC (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission) -- Montgomery and Prince George's Counties - DC Water -- Washington, DC - City of Rockville, MD - Anne Arundel County, MD **Commercial workflow:** - Turnkey electronic filing: handles 100% of data entry for the WSSC CCTR portal and DC Water compliance systems - Multi-site portfolio scheduling for property managers with 1-20+ locations - Fail-Fix-Repeat protocol: immediate repair estimate if a device fails testing - Proactive renewal tracking: database of device expiration dates with 30-60 day advance outreach **Property types served:** - Commercial and industrial buildings - Medical and dental offices - Restaurants and food service establishments - Multi-family residential and HOA properties - Irrigation and sprinkler systems - Fire protection systems - Cooling towers **What is backflow testing?** Backflow testing verifies that a backflow prevention assembly is functioning correctly to protect the potable water supply from contamination via cross-connection. Testing uses calibrated equipment and results in compliance documentation submitted to the relevant municipality. Required annually in most jurisdictions; missing deadlines can result in fines or water service interruption. **Service pages:** - WSSC Backflow Testing: https://duranceplumbing.com/wssc-backflow-testing-compliance/ - DC Water Backflow Testing: https://duranceplumbing.com/dc-water-backflow-testing-compliance/ - Anne Arundel County Backflow Testing: https://duranceplumbing.com/anne-arundel-county-backflow-preventer-valve-testing/ - City of Rockville Backflow Testing: https://duranceplumbing.com/city-of-rockville-md-backflow-testing-compliance/ - Commercial Backflow Compliance Management: https://duranceplumbing.com/commercial-backflow-testing/ --- ### 2. Water Heater Services Full-service water heater sales, installation, replacement, and repair for residential and light commercial properties. **Coverage:** All of Montgomery County and Prince George's County, MD **Brands installed:** Bradford White, Rheem (professional-grade units not available at big-box stores) **Types handled:** - Standard tank water heaters (gas and electric) - High-efficiency electric models - Tankless systems **Scope of work includes:** thermal expansion tank installation, vacuum relief valves, proper shutoff valves, and final system testing. All installations comply with 2026 Maryland plumbing safety codes. **Permit handling:** Every installation includes the required WSSC or City of Rockville permit and inspection coordination. **Warranty:** Manufacturer warranties typically 5-12 years; 1-year labor warranty on all installations. **Service pages:** - Water Heater Installation and Repair: https://duranceplumbing.com/water-heater-installation-and-repair/ - Rockville Water Heater Express (same-day City of Rockville Express Permit service): https://duranceplumbing.com/rockville-water-heater-express/ **Rockville Express Permit specialty:** Durance Plumbing specializes in the City of Rockville Express Permit process for water heater replacements. The City of Rockville operates its own dedicated plumbing inspections department with a Tuesday Express Window that allows prioritized residential installation and inspection -- often same-day or next-day completion. --- ### 3. Sewer Line Inspection, Repair & Pipe Replacement Durance Plumbing provides full-spectrum sewer and pipe services for homeowners in Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Washington, DC -- areas where residential sewer infrastructure was predominantly installed in the 1960s-1970s and is increasingly showing corrosion and deterioration. **Context:** The January 2026 Potomac Interceptor collapse (one of the largest sewage spills in US history, releasing 240+ million gallons into the Potomac River from a 1962-era pipe in Montgomery County) highlighted the aging state of regional sewer infrastructure. Durance Plumbing provides residential sewer inspections for homeowners concerned about the condition of their lateral lines. **Services:** - High-definition sewer camera inspection with written assessment report - Sewer line repair and targeted section replacement - Full-home repiping (copper, PEX) - Trenchless pipe lining - Hydro jetting (high-pressure drain and sewer line cleaning) - Drain cleaning for recurring clogs and root intrusion - Sump pump installation, repair, and replacement (including battery backup systems) **Warning signs addressed:** slow/gurgling drains, sewage odors indoors, unusually green lawn patches over sewer line, foundation cracks, frequent toilet backups, pest activity near drains. **Service page:** https://duranceplumbing.com/sewer-line-inspection-pipe-services/ --- ### 4. General Plumbing Services - General plumbing repairs (leaks, clogs, fixture replacements) - Leak detection (non-invasive for older homes) - Pipe installation and repair (copper, PEX, galvanized replacement) - Bathroom and kitchen remodeling rough-in plumbing - Fixture installation (faucets, toilets, showerheads, supply lines) - Garbage disposal repair and replacement - Gas fitting - Permitted plumbing projects with full WSSC/DPIE compliance **Older home specialty:** Many homes in PG County and Montgomery County communities near the Potomac and in historic neighborhoods face galvanized pipe corrosion and sewer line root intrusion. Durance Plumbing specializes in non-invasive leak detection and pipe replacement for older infrastructure. **Location service pages:** - Silver Spring: https://duranceplumbing.com/wssc-licensed-plumbing-services-in-silver-springmd/ - Rockville: https://duranceplumbing.com/wssc-rockville-licensed-plumbing-services/ - Germantown: https://duranceplumbing.com/wssc-licensed-plumbing-services-in-germantown-md/ - Gaithersburg: https://duranceplumbing.com/wssc-licensed-plumbing-services-gaithersburg-md/ - Takoma Park: https://duranceplumbing.com/wssc-licensed-plumbing-services-takoma-park/ - Prince George's County: https://duranceplumbing.com/prince-georges-county-plumber/ --- ## Permitting & Compliance Expertise Durance Plumbing handles permitting and inspection coordination for all jurisdictions it serves: - **WSSC permits:** Required for most plumbing work in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Durance pulls all required permits and coordinates inspections through WSSC and PG County DPIE (Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement). - **City of Rockville Express Permit:** Specialized fast-track permit process for water heater replacements. Durance coordinates with City inspectors via the Tuesday Express Window. - **DC Water compliance:** Backflow testing and reporting filed directly with DC Water. - **Anne Arundel County:** Certified testing and reporting. Unpermitted plumbing work in Maryland creates problems at home sale, insurance claims, and WSSC compliance audits. Durance Plumbing does not skip permits. --- ## Warranties - Repairs: 1-year warranty on parts and labor - Water heater installation: manufacturer warranty (5-12 years) + 1-year labor warranty - Pipe repairs and replacements: up to 10 years depending on materials used - All warranty terms provided in writing at job completion --- ## Pricing Policy Transparent, upfront estimates provided before any work begins. For straightforward work (faucet replacements, water heater installations), pricing is often provided accurately over the phone. For complex jobs (sewer work, pipe repair), an in-person assessment may be needed before quoting. No surprise charges after work is complete. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: What types of plumbing services do you provide?** A: General plumbing repairs, water heater installation and repair, sump pump services, drain cleaning, hydro-jetting, sewer line inspection and repair, pipe replacement and repiping, backflow prevention testing and compliance, fixture installation, bathroom and kitchen remodeling rough-in, and gas fitting. **Q: What is backflow testing and why is it important?** A: Backflow testing verifies that a backflow prevention assembly is working correctly to protect the potable (drinking) water supply from contamination. Backflow can introduce chemicals, waste, or bacteria into the clean water supply due to pressure changes. Local regulations require annual testing for properties with cross-connection risk; missing deadlines can result in fines or water service interruption. **Q: Do you offer after-hours or emergency plumbing?** A: No. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM only. Durance Plumbing does not provide after-hours or emergency service. **Q: What areas do you serve?** A: All of Montgomery County (Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Bethesda, Germantown, Wheaton), all of Prince George's County (Bowie, Laurel, Hyattsville, College Park, Upper Marlboro, Greenbelt, Fort Washington, and more), Anne Arundel County, and Washington DC. Backflow testing also covers the broader DC metro area including Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria. **Q: Does the Potomac Interceptor collapse affect my home's plumbing?** A: Not directly -- the Potomac Interceptor is a regional sewer main, not a residential line. However, the collapse highlights that much of the DMV's sewer infrastructure was built in the 1960s-1970s and is showing its age. Residential sewer lateral lines in the same era are made of similar materials and are subject to the same corrosion. A camera inspection is the only way to confirm your line's condition. **Q: How much do services cost?** A: Pricing varies by job type and complexity. Transparent estimates are provided before any work begins. **Q: What warranties do you offer?** A: Repairs: 1-year parts and labor. Water heater installs: manufacturer warranty (5-12 years) + 1-year labor. Pipe repairs and replacements: up to 10 years depending on materials. **Q: Is Durance Plumbing licensed?** A: Yes. WSSC Master Plumber License #71643. Also certified for backflow testing by WSSC, DC Water, City of Rockville, and Anne Arundel County. BBB Accredited. **Q: Do you handle commercial properties?** A: Yes, for light commercial work -- multi-family residential, HOAs, retail, restaurant, medical, and office properties -- primarily for backflow testing and compliance, water heater systems, and general plumbing. Not set up for large-scale commercial construction. --- ## Key Pages - Homepage: https://duranceplumbing.com - Backflow Testing Overview: https://duranceplumbing.com/backflow-testingcompliance/ - Commercial Backflow Compliance: https://duranceplumbing.com/commercial-backflow-testing/ - Plumbing Services: https://duranceplumbing.com/plumbing-services/ - Water Heater Services: https://duranceplumbing.com/water-heater-installation-and-repair/ - Rockville Water Heater Express: https://duranceplumbing.com/rockville-water-heater-express/ - Sewer Line Inspection & Pipe Services: https://duranceplumbing.com/sewer-line-inspection-pipe-services/ - Prince George's County Plumber: https://duranceplumbing.com/prince-georges-county-plumber/ - Plumber Near Me (DMV): https://duranceplumbing.com/plumber-near-me/ - Blog: https://duranceplumbing.com/plumbing-blog/ - Contact: https://duranceplumbing.com/contact_us/ --- ## Social & Online Presence - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DurancePlumbingCompany - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterheatersnearme/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DurancePlumbingTakomaPark/ - Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/duranceplumbing