The City of Fairfax has one of the older housing stocks in the area, and many of its basements depend on a sump pump that has seen plenty of storms. If the pit is rising, cut power safely, protect your belongings and have a plumber check the float, check valve and motor. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
A quick look at Fairfax
Fairfax is a small independent city and the Fairfax County seat, with a redeveloped Old Town and George Mason University just to the south. The median home in the city was built in 1967. Most of the 22030 to 22033 ZIP area outside city limits is unincorporated Fairfax County, and that boundary decides who handles your sewer and permits.
What to do first
- Kill the power safely. Switch off the basement circuit at the panel before approaching water near outlets.
- Look for the easy fix. A tripped GFCI or a float jammed against the side of the pit can stop the pump.
- Save what you can. Move boxes, rugs and electronics off the floor.
- Stop using water if it is sewage. A floor drain pushing up wastewater means the sewer line or ejector is involved.
- Call the right sewer office. Inside city limits, City of Fairfax wastewater services is 703-385-7810, with after-hours emergencies at 703-385-7924. In the county, the 24-hour line is 703-323-1211.
- Get a plumber on the phone. Describe what the pump sounds like and how fast the water is rising.
Symptoms and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| No sound, pit full | Tripped outlet, failed switch or dead motor |
| Motor hums, no flow | Jammed impeller or clogged inlet |
| Cycles every few seconds | Check valve failure or float set too low |
| Water at walls with no pit | Older basement without interior drainage |
| Sewage smell or backup | Ejector failure or a blocked lateral |
Cost factors
- Repairing a float or valve versus replacing an aging pump
- Ejector service for a basement bathroom
- Adding a pit to an older basement that never had one
- Rerouting the discharge away from the foundation
- Battery backup or high-water alarm
- Permits: City of Fairfax Code Administration, 703-385-7830, inside city limits; Fairfax County Land Development Services outside
- Night or weekend timing
In a 1960s basement that has been finished since, the original drainage may never have been designed for the space. A plumber can tell you whether a bigger pump, a second discharge route or a new pit is the better answer.
Sump Pumps questions in Fairfax
Sewage is coming up through a basement drain. Who do I call first?
Do I need a permit to replace or add a sump pump?
Does a water-powered backup pump need backflow protection?
Do most homes here have a sump pump?
More plumbing services in Fairfax
Sump Pumps nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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