Falls Church homes skew older, with a median build year of 1971, so hidden leaks often trace to original supply pipe, valves and joints. A rising Fairfax Water bill or a meter that won't stop is the usual sign. 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 where Route 29 and Route 7 meet, just inside the Beltway. Fairfax Water provides its water; the City's former water utility, which also served Tysons and Merrifield, was sold to Fairfax Water in 2014. The City still runs its own sewer system. Fairfax Water's customer service number is 703-698-5800. Keep in mind that the Falls Church mailing area spreads well beyond city limits into Fairfax and Arlington counties, including Seven Corners, and those addresses have different permit offices.
About half the homes in the city were built before 1971, and older pipe is where many leaks begin. Original copper, gate valves that no longer close tightly, and joints in basement ceilings are typical trouble spots. Many of these houses have been renovated in stages, so it is common to find several pipe materials joined together, and those transitions are worth checking first.
Steps to take
- Shut off all water use, including the irrigation timer and ice maker.
- Check the meter. Any movement means a leak.
- Close the main valve in the house; if the meter still moves, the buried line outside is the likely source.
- If it stops, test toilets with food coloring and inspect the basement ceiling, water heater and sink cabinets.
- Note rust, green corrosion or white mineral crust on pipes and valves.
- If water is dripping through a ceiling, close the main and leave it closed.
What symptoms usually mean
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Discolored water and falling pressure | Corroding older pipe |
| Drip from a valve stem | Worn packing in an old shutoff |
| Stain spreading on plaster | Supply or drain joint above |
| Meter creeping overnight | Toilet or dripping fixture |
| Soft lawn near the street | Service line leak |
What affects the price
In older houses, the search can uncover more than one problem, and a plumber may recommend replacing a corroded run instead of patching it. Plaster walls and finished basements take more care to open and close. The type of detection equipment and whether a permit is needed also count. Inside the city, permits come from the Department of Code Administration at 703-248-5080; homes with a Falls Church address in Fairfax or Arlington County go to those counties instead.
Leak Detection questions in Falls Church
Are older homes here more likely to have hidden leaks?
Do I need a permit to repair the leak once it is found?
Can a running toilet really show up on the water bill?
Is a damp basement wall a plumbing leak or groundwater?
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