A McLean plumbing inspection is a plumber's review of the supply and drain piping, fixtures, shutoffs, water heater, gas connections and any irrigation backflow assembly, with a sewer camera run available. Larger houses with more baths and outdoor water use give a plumber more to check. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in McLean.
What's specific to McLean
McLean sits just northwest of Washington along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Georgetown Pike and Chain Bridge Road, and the median home was built around 1976. Many houses have been expanded over the years, so it's common to find newer bathrooms tied into older drain and supply lines, and a plumber pays attention to where old meets new.
Fairfax Water supplies the area. Some of its customers get Potomac water from Fairfax Water's own plants and some get water treated by the Washington Aqueduct, so the annual water quality report is the place to see what applies. Fairfax Water owns the line up to and including the meter, and the customer owns everything after it.
Fairfax County's Cross Connections Group requires lawn irrigation systems to have a testable high-hazard backflow assembly tested every year by a certified tester on the County's authorized vendor list. In-ground pools, directly connected hot tubs and home fire sprinklers are covered too, which matters on larger lots.
Repair or replace: what usually comes up
| Item | Repair | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Irrigation backflow assembly | Rebuild kit after a failed test | Body damaged or missing parts |
| Water heater | Valve or element | Leaking tank; a County permit is required either way for a swap |
| Sewer lateral | Clearing roots | Broken or collapsed sections on camera |
| Fixture valves | New cartridge | Corroded body or discontinued parts |
Signs to act on
- An inspection deadline on a purchase
- A water heater with no permit history
- Recurring slow drains or a main line that backs up
- An irrigation system nobody has tested
- A finished basement with a bathroom and no record of who plumbed it
Timing notes
Book early in the contingency period, because a failed backflow test or a camera finding can take a few days to price out. Have irrigation and outdoor spigots checked before the first freezing nights. If the sewer backs up with nothing running, Fairfax County's 24-hour line, 703-323-1211, checks the county main first; the private lateral is the owner's. Spring brings a chlorine smell for a few weeks while Fairfax Water switches disinfectant. Washington Gas serves McLean; if you smell gas, get out, then call 911 and 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1.
Plumbing Inspection questions in McLean
Does replacing a water heater need a permit here?
Will the plumber check the backflow preventer on the irrigation system?
If sewage backs up, should I call the utility or a plumber first?
The home inspector already went through the house. Why add a plumber?
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