Homes in and around the City of Fairfax skew older, with a median build year in the late 1960s, so original shower valves with worn stems, washers or cartridges are common here. Some rebuild well; others are better replaced. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
Fairfax at a glance
The City of Fairfax is a small independent city that remains the county seat, and much of the surrounding area with a Fairfax mailing address is actually unincorporated Fairfax County. The median home in the Fairfax area was built around 1967, so many bathrooms still hold two-handle compression valves or early single-lever mixers. Fairfax Water supplies the City and its surroundings, drawing on the Potomac and the Occoquan. Its water is moderately hard, about 7.5 grains per gallon on average at the Potomac plant, and it switches from chloramines to free chlorine roughly April through June.
What to do now
- Stop the water if needed. A shower that won't turn off calls for the main shutoff, often in the basement near the front wall or in a utility room.
- Test the temperature carefully. If the shower spikes hot, keep children and older adults out of it until the valve is checked.
- Look for hidden leaks. Check the ceiling below and any closet behind the shower for staining or soft drywall.
- Find out who issues permits. City addresses go to the City's Code Administration; county addresses go to Fairfax County Land Development Services.
- Gather details. Note the handle style, any brand name and when the bathroom was last updated.
Symptoms and causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Steady drip from the head | Worn washer, seat or cartridge seal |
| Handles hard to close | Corroded stems or scale on seats |
| Scalding when a toilet flushes | No pressure balancing, or a sticky spool |
| Rusty first flow | Old supply piping near the valve |
| Wet ceiling below the bathroom | Leak at the valve body or a joint |
What affects the cost
- Rebuilding an old valve versus replacing it with a pressure-balancing model
- Whether parts exist for an older brand
- Seized stems that resist removal
- Access through tile, a closet wall or a panel
- Permits: in the City, plumbing permit applications go to Code Administration at 10455 Armstrong Street (703.385.7830); in the county, LDS handles them through PLUS
- Any repair to older supply lines that connect to the valve
When an old valve is replaced, the plumber may suggest new shutoff stops or a short run of new pipe on each side so the connections are sound for the next few decades.
Shower Valve Repair questions in Fairfax
Do I need a permit to replace a shower valve?
What kind of valve is likely behind the handle in an older home here?
Why does the shower turn scalding or icy when someone flushes a toilet?
Does the spring change in disinfectant affect my shower?
More plumbing services in Fairfax
Shower Valve Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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