Commercial Plumbing in Woodbridge, VA

Signs a Woodbridge business needs a plumber

• A recertification notice for a backflow device that hasn't been scheduled
• Food-court or restaurant drains that gurgle and back up after busy weekends
• Tenants in an apartment building reporting short hot water
• A restroom that has to be closed because a fixture keeps running or clogging
• A water bill climbing with no change in use
• Sewer odor near a cleanout or dumpster pad

Woodbridge water, sewer and permits

Prince William Water provides water and wastewater service to most of Prince William County. In the eastern part of the county, its water is Occoquan Reservoir water treated at Fairfax Water's Griffith plant, the same source that feeds Virginia American Water's Prince William system. Because parts of the Woodbridge postal area, around Dale City, are on Virginia American Water instead, the bill is the quickest way to know which utility serves a building. Prince William Water rates its water moderately hard, 3.5 to 7.0 grains per gallon (60 to 120 mg/L), so expect some scale in commercial water heaters and dish machines.

Under Prince William Water's Cross Connection Control program, owners of testable backflow devices must have them tested by a certified backflow testing company at installation or repair and every year after, with results sent to the Cross Connection Coordinator. The utility mails annual recertification notices; the program line is (703) 335-8947. Main breaks and outages go to Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990.

Woodbridge is unincorporated, so permits come from the Prince William County Building Development Division, 5 County Complex Court (703-792-6930). Gas work such as piping and venting for a gas water heater needs a gas permit, and a plumbing permit is added when water piping is extended more than 10 feet or the pipe material changes. Columbia Gas of Virginia and Washington Gas both operate in the county, so check the bill. If anyone smells gas, leave the building, then call 911 and that gas utility from outside.

What changes the price

• Size of the space and number of fixtures or units
• Whether a backflow device needs repair parts and a retest
• Gas and plumbing permit requirements for water heater work
• Night or weekend scheduling around customers
• Camera inspection or jetting on long commercial drain runs

What to expect on the call

Say what the property is, what's wrong and how urgent it is. You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who handles commercial work in Woodbridge, whether that's a store near Potomac Mills, an office on Prince William Parkway or a complex in Lake Ridge. Ask about pricing and the first visit before work starts.