Homes in and around the City of Fairfax are older than much of Northern Virginia, with a median build year around 1967, so worn faucet seats, washers and shutoff valves are common. Moderately hard Fairfax Water adds scale. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
Fairfax homes and their faucets
The City of Fairfax and the neighborhoods around it grew up mostly in the 1950s and 1960s, and many houses keep faucets and valves from earlier remodels. Fairfax Water supplies the city with treated Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir water, which is moderately hard: about 70 to 185 mg/L at its Potomac plant. Older two-handle faucets and the first generation of single-handle faucets both suffer from that scale. Fairfax Water owns the service line up to and including the meter; past that point, every pipe, valve and faucet belongs to the homeowner. It uses chloramines from about July through March and free chlorine generally from April through June, so a filter faucet should carry a chloramine rating.
What to do now
- Turn off the water at the sink. Close both stops under the basin. Do not force a valve that will not move.
- Use the main if needed. If the stops fail, close the main shutoff where the water line enters the house.
- Relieve pressure. Open the faucet briefly so the remaining water drains.
- Note the symptoms. Is the leak from the spout, the handle or underneath? Hot side, cold side or both?
- Collect details. Find the brand and photograph the faucet and the plumbing below it.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Drip from a two-handle faucet | Worn washer or pitted seat |
| Drip from a single-handle faucet | Worn cartridge or ball seals |
| Water around the stem | Packing or O-ring failure |
| Rusty water at one tap after sitting | Older valves or supply piping |
| Faucet will not fully shut off | Broken stem or cartridge |
Cost factors
Most of the price comes down to whether the faucet is rebuilt or replaced. Older compression faucets may need seats dressed or replaced as well as washers, which adds time. Old multi-turn valves under the sink often need replacing before the faucet can be serviced safely. Uncommon brands can mean ordering parts. Inside city limits, plumbing permits for work that goes beyond a straight swap are handled by the City's Code Administration (703.385.7830); Fairfax-addressed homes outside the city go to Fairfax County Land Development Services. The City's Public Works handles wastewater inside the city, but faucets and supply lines are the homeowner's job.
Faucet Repair questions in Fairfax
How do I find out which water utility serves my address?
Do I need a permit to replace a faucet?
The shutoff valves under my sink are stuck. Should those be replaced too?
Will a water softener help my faucets last longer?
More plumbing services in Fairfax
Faucet Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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