Plumbers in Great Falls, VA

Large lots on the Potomac

Great Falls sits on the Virginia bank of the Potomac River, about 16 miles from downtown Washington. It is an unincorporated census-designated place of 15,953 residents (2020 Census), mostly a bedroom community for Washington but partly rural, about 20 percent by one measure, with large lots, Great Falls Park and Riverbend Park. Georgetown Pike, Leesburg Pike and Old Dominion Drive are the main roads, and the Great Falls Village Green is the town center. The median home was built around 1985.

Wells or public water: it depends on the street

The Great Falls Citizens Association says many homes rely on private wells, while some neighborhoods are served by Fairfax Water. If you are on a well, the pump, pressure tank, pressure switch and any treatment equipment are yours to maintain, and well work is a mainstream call here rather than a rarity. The citizens association recommends testing well water every year, and sooner if the smell, taste or appearance changes. Low pressure, short-cycling, a pump that runs without stopping, or air spitting from faucets are typical signs that the well system needs a look.

For homes on Fairfax Water, water comes from the Occoquan Reservoir (Griffith plant) and the Potomac River (Corbalis plant), with chloramines normally used from July through March and free chlorine from April through June. Fairfax Water's analyses show moderately hard water, near 7.5 grains per gallon on average at Corbalis. On that system, the utility owns the meter and its setting, and the homeowner owns everything on the property, including the line from the meter to the house. Customer service is 703-698-5800. Irrigation backflow assemblies on Fairfax Water must be tested at installation, every year and after repair or replacement (cross-connection department: 571-722-7653).

Not every home is on public sewer

Many Great Falls homes are not on municipal sewer and use private onsite wastewater systems, which need routine pumping and inspection; a Fairfax County Health Department monitoring regulation applies to some of them. A plumber can handle the house drains and the private line running from the house toward the onsite system's tank, while pumping and system service are separate trades. Where public sewer does exist, Fairfax County's Wastewater Management program runs it and the owner maintains the private lateral.

Permits

Great Falls is unincorporated, so Fairfax County Land Development Services issues residential plumbing and Household Appliance permits through PLUS (703-222-0801). Gas appliance replacements need a permit even when like for like.

Gas

Washington Gas operates pipelines throughout Great Falls, though not every home is connected and some houses are all-electric. If you smell gas, leave the building first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1.

How Great Falls differs from the District

Every DC address is on DC Water and the public sewer system. In Great Falls, the well, the pressure tank and the line to the onsite system are often the owner's own equipment. When you call, say whether you're on a well or public water and describe the problem, and you will be connected with an independent plumber who sets price and timing with you.