In the City of Fairfax, a hidden leak usually shows up as a higher Fairfax Water bill, a meter that keeps moving, or dampness in an older home's basement or crawlspace. A few checks of your own, then a plumber's isolation tests, will find it. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
Fairfax in brief
The City of Fairfax is an independent city with a median home built in 1967, one of the older housing stocks in the area. Old Town and the surrounding neighborhoods include plenty of houses with original supply pipe and valves. The City's water utility is Fairfax Water, whose customer service line, 703-698-5800, also takes after-hours emergencies. Most of the 22030 to 22033 ZIP codes outside city limits are unincorporated Fairfax County, which matters for permits and sewer service.
What to do first
- Stop all water use in the house, including irrigation and appliances on timers.
- Watch the meter's flow indicator for a few minutes.
- If it moves, shut the main valve inside. Continued movement suggests the line from the meter to the house; no movement means the leak is indoors.
- Test each toilet with a few drops of food coloring in the tank.
- Check visible pipes in the basement or crawlspace for drips, green corrosion or rust.
- If water is spreading, keep the main closed until help arrives.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Rusty or brown stains at pipe joints | Corroding galvanized or steel fittings |
| Green crust on copper | Slow seep at a joint |
| Valve won't fully close | Worn or scaled gate valve, possible stem leak |
| Meter moves with the main shut | Leak in the buried service line |
| Weak pressure throughout the house | A leak, or buildup inside older pipe |
Cost factors
The age of the plumbing shapes the job. In a 1960s house, the plumber may find more than one weak spot and may suggest replacing a corroded section rather than patching it. Access matters too: crawlspaces and unfinished basements are quicker to work in than plaster and tile. Fairfax Water's Potomac plant water averages about 7.5 grains per gallon of hardness, so older valves may be scaled badly enough that replacing them makes more sense than trying to free them. Inside city limits, plumbing permits go through the City's Code Administration office at 703.385.7830; outside the city, Fairfax County Land Development Services handles them. If the problem turns out to be a drain or sewer leak rather than supply, the City's after-hours wastewater line is 703-385-7924.
Leak Detection questions in Fairfax
Are older homes here more likely to have hidden leaks?
Should I shut off the main valve while I wait?
Do I need a permit to repair the leak once it is found?
Does hard water have anything to do with leaks?
More plumbing services in Fairfax
Leak Detection nearby
Sources
- Fairfax County: utility and cable providers
- City of Fairfax wastewater services
- City of Fairfax plumbing permit application
- Fairfax County LDS: household appliance and plumbing permits
- Fairfax Water: Corbalis plant finished-water analysis
- City of Fairfax housing by year built
- Fairfax, Virginia (Wikipedia)
Last updated: