Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, VA Plumber for Burst Pipes, Backed-Up Drains and No Hot Water
Water on the floor, a drain that will not clear, or a water heater that quit overnight: call and describe it. A plumber serving the City of Fairfax and the towns around it takes it from there.
Start with the problem: what to do first and where to read
Start with the problem in front of you. Each box says what to do first and where to read more.
Water will not stop
Close the main shutoff at once, then call. If the water is in the street or at the meter, that pipe belongs to the water utility, not to you.
Several drains backing up
Stop running water and call. When more than one fixture gurgles or backs up, the trouble is usually in the line that leaves the house.
One slow or clogged drain
A single sink, tub or toilet that will not clear is usually a local clog. Skip harsh chemicals if you plan to call a plumber.
No hot water, or a leaking heater
Turn off the power or gas supply to the heater and the cold water feeding it, then call. Water pooling under the tank is a different problem from a pilot that went out.
A bill that jumped, or a damp spot with no source
Check whether the meter moves with every fixture off. If it does, water is escaping somewhere you cannot see.
You smell gas
Leave the building, call 911, then call Washington Gas at 844-927-4427 and choose option 1. Do not call a plumber first, and do not touch switches.
Whose pipe is it: yours, Fairfax Water's or the gas company's?
The first call depends on where the problem sits. These contacts come from the City of Fairfax and apply to addresses inside the City.
| What you see | Who to call first |
|---|---|
| Water leaking from the street, a main or the meter | Fairfax Water, 24-hour line 703-698-5613 |
| Water leaking inside the house or on the house side of the meter | A plumber. Close your main shutoff first. |
| Sewage backing up into the home | A plumber, to check your own line first. You own it all the way to the main. |
| Smell of gas | Leave, call 911, then Washington Gas at 844-927-4427, option 1 |
Not sure which row you are in? Call us and describe what you see. A dispatcher will route you to a plumber serving your area.
Describe the problem, then let a plumber take over
Tell the dispatcher what you see, where in the house it is, and your street address and ZIP. Those three details decide who is sent and which City or County rules apply.
Plumbing services Fairfax homeowners call about most
These six cover most calls. Open the one that matches your problem, or see every service on the hub page.
Emergency plumbing in Fairfax
Active leaks, backups and no-water situations where waiting makes the damage bigger.
Drain cleaning and clog removal
Kitchen, bath and main drains that run slowly or not at all.
Water heater installation and replacement
For tanks past repair, with the permit question settled before work starts.
Water heater repair
Lukewarm water, odd noises, pilot trouble and slow leaks.
Sewer line repair and replacement
Cracked, rooted or collapsed lines between the house and the main.
Toilet repair and installation
Running, clogged or rocking toilets, and worn-out units that need replacing.
Water heater trouble: repair it or replace it?
A heater that runs out of hot water, makes noise or drips forces one choice: fix it again or replace it. A failed part on an otherwise sound tank is often worth repairing. A leak from the tank body generally cannot be patched.
Two local facts change what you ask. Fairfax Water reports typical hardness of 5 to 10 grains per gallon, from moderately hard to hard, and scale builds up inside tanks over the years. Ask the plumber whether the tank has been flushed and what its condition says about the time it has left. Fairfax Water's hardness page has the current figures.
The second fact is the permit. In the City of Fairfax a gas water heater needs both a gas permit and a plumbing permit, and an electric one needs electrical and plumbing permits. Ask who pulls them before you agree to the work, and see the City's permit questions page or call Code Administration at 703-385-7830.
If you are replacing the whole unit, swapping in a new heater is the usual route, and some homeowners also ask about a tankless unit. If the tank is sound and only a part failed, repairing the existing heater may be enough.
Drain or sewer backup: how far down the pipe is the problem?
One slow sink is usually a local clog. Several fixtures backing up together, gurgling when another one drains, or a soggy patch in the yard points toward the line that leaves the house.
That line, the sewer lateral, is the owner's responsibility all the way to the main inside the public right-of-way, according to the City. A failed lateral is therefore the homeowner's repair, including the stretch under the street.
The City runs a lateral repair program that reimburses part of the cost for City addresses. It requires two quotes and a camera recording of the line before any work starts, both submitted to Public Works for approval. Ask for the recording first, and read the program rules before you sign anything.
Digging also needs a Virginia811 ticket at least three working days ahead, which is the contractor's job but worth asking about. For a clog in one fixture, clearing the drain is the first step. When a line keeps clogging, high-pressure jetting scours it, and a camera shows whether you need a sewer lateral repair or a pipe lining instead of a trench.
Where plumbers are sent: the City of Fairfax and the towns around it
The City of Fairfax is an independent city, which means it sits apart from Fairfax County. When a permit, a sewer question or a utility call comes up, the office and the rules depend on which side of that line your address is on.
Give the dispatcher your street address and ZIP when you call, so the right jurisdiction is used from the start. Not sure your address is covered? Call and ask.
Nearby towns and communities
Neighborhoods inside the City
What happens when you call
- Describe the problem and give your street address and ZIP. Say if water is still running or if anything smells like gas.
- The dispatcher routes the call to a plumber serving your area. There is no form to fill in; the phone is the whole process.
- Before work begins, ask what the job includes, who pulls any permit, and for the plumber's license details, which are available on request.
Prices are confirmed after the plumber diagnoses the problem, so expect questions before a number. See the typical cost ranges to know what moves a price, and the common plumbing questions if you want answers before you call.
Plumbing problem in Fairfax?
Call, say what you see, and give your address. A plumber serving your area takes it from there.