If a pipe bursts in your Falls Church home, close the main valve immediately and stay out of water near outlets or cords. A plumber can find the split, replace the failed section and look over the older pipe near it. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Falls Church.
Falls Church basics
The City of Falls Church is a small independent city just inside the Beltway, and the Falls Church mailing area spreads well into Fairfax and Arlington counties. Inside the city, Fairfax Water provides the water and the City runs the sewers. The median home was built in 1971, so many houses still have original copper or steel lines. Fairfax Water owns the service line up to and including the meter; the customer owns the line beyond it.
Plaster walls, original pipe and joints between old and new materials from past remodels all shape how a repair goes here. If the pipe on either side of the crack looks thin or corroded, the plumber may suggest replacing a little more than the broken piece.
Steps to take now
- Close the main shutoff, typically in the basement or utility room where the line enters.
- Turn off the water heater at the breaker, or set a gas unit to pilot.
- Stay clear of wet wiring and the electrical panel.
- Drain the lines from the lowest faucet.
- Move belongings and lift rugs off wet floors.
- Take photos before cleanup.
- If you smell gas, leave and call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside.
Symptom table
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Discolored water when service is restored | Old steel pipe disturbed by the break |
| Water through a plaster ceiling | Failed supply line or fitting above |
| Damp foundation wall under a hose bib | Freeze split in the spigot line |
| No pressure anywhere | Large rupture on the main supply |
| Soggy yard over the service line | Leak between meter and house |
Cost factors
- Original pipe that needs a longer replacement
- Plaster walls and ceilings, which take more care to open
- Additional weak spots found under pressure
- Yard excavation
- After-hours timing
- Permits: inside the city, the Department of Code Administration at 703-248-5080; Falls Church-addressed homes outside the city go to Fairfax County or Arlington County
For a problem at the meter or street, call Fairfax Water at 703-698-5800. Separately, the City runs a sewer backflow prevention program that reimburses owners for a device installed under a plumbing permit, which some owners add while walls are open.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Falls Church
My water provider depends on the address. How do I know whom to call?
Does one burst pipe mean the house needs repiping?
Can I turn the water back on myself after the repair?
Does a burst pipe repair need a permit here?
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