Emergency Plumber in Arlington, VA

Problems that justify a call tonight

• Water coming through a ceiling, out of a wall or from under the kitchen sink and still spreading
• A toilet or basement floor drain pushing up wastewater
• A water heater with a puddle forming under the tank
• A pipe that froze in an outside wall or crawlspace and has now split
• Every faucet dry while the neighbors still have water
• Any whiff of gas near the furnace, range or water heater

A slow bathroom sink or a running toilet can wait for a weekday appointment. The items above can ruin finished basements, hardwood floors and drywall in a single evening.

How Arlington's systems are split

Arlington County's Department of Environmental Services, through its Water, Sewer, Streets Bureau, runs both the water and the sewer systems. The county's 24-hour emergency hotline, 703-228-6555, takes water main breaks and reports of water showing up in unusual places. The county owns the pipe from the main up to the meter, including the meter and meter box; from the meter into the house, the line belongs to the owner, so a break on that stretch is a plumber's job.

Natural gas comes from Washington Gas. If you smell gas, walk out without switching lights or appliances on or off, then call 911 and the Washington Gas Emergency Leak Line, 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside.

The county's median home dates from 1976, and older streets in places like Cherrydale sit beside newer towers in Rosslyn and Ballston. In a high-rise, call building management too, because a leak can reach the units below. Water here measures about 8 grains per gallon of hardness, enough to leave scale in an aging tank heater.

What changes the cost

• The hour. Late-night, weekend and holiday visits usually carry a higher service charge.
• Reaching the pipe. A line in an open basement is faster to fix than one behind a finished ceiling or tile.
• Repair or replacement. A split fitting is a smaller job than a new water heater.
• Permits. Water heater and gas work in Arlington goes through the county's building permit program (Permit Arlington), which adds a step to a replacement.

When you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who handles urgent work in Arlington. Give the address and a cross street, say whether the main is off, and describe what you see. Ask how after-hours pricing works before anyone heads out. Arrival time depends on the hour and the plumber's schedule, so none is promised.