A plumbing inspection in Fairfax is a plumber's review of the drains, supply piping, fixtures, shutoffs, water heater, gas connectors and any backflow device, with a sewer camera run available. The city's housing is older than most of the county, and the rules depend on whether the address is inside city limits. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
The City of Fairfax is an independent city and the county seat, with a redeveloped Old Town and George Mason University just to the south. The median home was built around 1967, so many houses still have original drain lines and valves. Fairfax Water supplies the water.
What to do now
- Confirm whether the address is inside city limits; much of the 22030 to 22033 area is unincorporated county.
- Find the main shutoff, water heater and sewer cleanout.
- Ask for permit records on the water heater and any irrigation backflow test reports.
- Note slow drains, drips and stains.
- Book the plumber early in the contract window.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Slow drains throughout the house | Aging lateral, roots or a partial blockage |
| Rusty water after the tap sits | Corroding older supply piping or water heater |
| Main shutoff won't stop the flow | Worn original valve |
| Sediment and noise from the tank | Scale from moderately hard to hard water |
| Basement drain backs up in storms | Lateral problem or blocked main |
Inside the city, the City's Department of Public Works runs the wastewater system, at 703-385-7810, with after-hours emergencies at 703-385-7924. In unincorporated Fairfax-addressed areas, Fairfax County handles sewer, and its 24-hour line is 703-323-1211. In both cases the private lateral belongs to the owner. Fairfax Water owns the service line up to and including the meter; the owner has the rest.
Testable backflow assemblies, such as lawn irrigation, pools and directly connected hot tubs, must be tested at installation, after repair and at least once a year by a certified tester on Fairfax County's authorized list, and installing or replacing an irrigation assembly needs a plumbing permit.
Cost factors
- Home size and number of bathrooms
- Adding a sewer camera run
- Access to piping in finished basements
- Written findings for a sale
- Whether more than one water heater or gas appliance needs a look
On a house from the 1960s, the camera run often matters more than anything else in the visit, because a lateral that needs replacing can change the math on the purchase. Plumbing permits inside the city go to the City's Code Administration; County addresses go to Land Development Services. Washington Gas serves the area: if you smell gas, leave, then call 911 and 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1.
Plumbing Inspection questions in Fairfax
My mailing address uses the town's name, but I'm outside its limits. Whose rules apply?
What deserves extra attention in an older home?
Will the plumber check the backflow preventer on the irrigation system?
Does the inspection include gas piping, and what if I smell gas?
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