Durance Plumbing
Plumber · Silver Spring, MD
Our verdict
4.8★ across 72 reviews with BBB A+ accreditation; 100 reviews analyzed show 92 five-star vs. 5 negative, fast_response in 19, fair_pricing in 10, and 2 poor_workmanship flags — strong overall but pricing complaints in 5 reviews warrant scrutiny.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Our opinion, based on the 100 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
What reviewers praise
Fast response across 19 of 100 reviews — themeCounts.fast_response=19; Thanksgiving weekend sewage clog responded to ASAP, backflow tests completed same-day with report filed same day.
2 cited reviews
“I can't say enough good things about this company. It's Thanksgiving weekend and my sewage pipe is totally clogged. They came ASAP, on time as promised and fixed the problem, and even cleaned up. They are honest, prompt and very trustworthy, answered all my questions.”
“Kirk Durance did a great job inspecting the backflow on my sprinkler system. He let me know what the cost would be for the inspection and the water companies fee in advance, worked with me to find a date and time that would work with my schedule. The same day, he filed the report with WSSC and sent me a copy.”
Creative problem-solving saves cost: offered collapsed-drain solution that avoided punching through a freshly waterproofed foundation — other contractor had no alternative.
1 cited review
“We had a collapsed drain overflowing and were told we would have to punch a hole in our foundation which we had just waterproofed. We called Durance for a second opinion and Allan had a smart, creative solution that saved us great trouble and expense.”
Fair pricing confirmed in 10 of 100 reviews (themeCounts.fair_pricing=10); water leak fixed quickly 'for a fair price' and backflow device cheaper than two competing quotes.
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
What reviewers report — the concerns
Other directories bury these. We think you should read them before you call. Every concern below comes from the reviews it cites.
Red flag
1-star review alleges promised $187 refund was never issued after service manager explicitly agreed to it — raises trust concern despite isolated incident.
“My experience was the opposite, overpriced, borderline competent, and untrustworthy. When I returned the feedback survey to the company of one star, the service manager called me next morning and after long conversation saying he wanted us to 'part amicably' that he would credit $187 part of the (over) charge. But he never did.”
Pricing complaints in 5 of 100 reviews (themeCounts.expensive=5): 1-star review describes 'overpriced, borderline competent, and untrustworthy' and a promised $187 credit that was never issued.
“My experience was the opposite, overpriced, borderline competent, and untrustworthy. When I returned the feedback survey to the company of one star, the service manager called me next morning and after long conversation saying he wanted us to 'part amicably' that he would credit $187 part of the (over) charge. But he never did.”
2 poor_workmanship flags in 100 reviews — small proportion but worth noting for a BBB A+ accredited shop.
Cited in 1 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“More than a month ago, we requested a quote for replacing our water heater with a tankless one. We figured we'd beat the holiday rush, etc. Not with this company. Adam showed up 1/2 hour early for our service call, then promptly left when nobody answered the door. (My husband was in the shower.) Showing up early is all well & good, but I would expect a service provider to at least wait until the appointed time …”
“Update 5/6/2025: I was refunded the $262.50 diagnostic fee from Durance after posting my original 4/16/25 review below. So I've increased my rating from one to two stars for doing the right thing. That said, my initial experience was not ideal, so if you decide to contact them make sure you triple check on any/all potential fees prior to scheduling a visit (which goes for any contractor that visits your …”
Positive
“Year after year, we’ve relied on Durance Plumbing for our annual backflow water test in our pediatric dental office. Service is always top-notch. Scheduling is always simple, and Kirk always shows up on time. The whole process is quick and efficient. It’s a huge relief knowing we’re staying compliant without any stress. Highly recommend!”
“I was getting reminders from WSSC about backflow prevention testing. Turns out I have a non testable device and the part needs to be replaced every 5 years. It had come up on our home inspection but I had forgotten to get it taken cared of. I consulted the list on WSSC site for approved companies to work with and selected a competitor. That competitor was mostly responsive but did not have the part with them and …”
Quotes are reproduced verbatim from public reviews on the platforms shown; we select which to feature, and selection reflects our editorial judgment. Report a quote that doesn't match its source ↗
The rating picture
Newest review in our sample: May 2025.
Across platforms
Should you hire Durance Plumbing?
Hire if
- You need fast same-day or after-hours response
- You need clear communication and upfront explanations
Think twice if
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need warranty-grade work on a complex or high-stakes install
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own Durance Plumbing?
You can respond to our analysis, correct business facts, or dispute the accuracy of a quoted review. Responses that check out get published on this page, and factual errors get corrected — see our corrections policy. We don't remove accurate quotes, but we'll re-run your assessment as your reviews change.
Find plumbers near you
Durance Plumbingisn't in one of our ranked city guides yet — the nearest covered markets are below.
Nearby: District Heights · Annapolis Junction · Reston