Hidden leaks in Alexandria tend to surface as a jump on the Virginia American Water bill, damp plaster in an older Old Town or Del Ray house, or a meter that won't sit still. A plumber can isolate parts of the system to find the source before cutting into anything. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Alexandria.
Leak hunting in Alexandria
Inside city limits, water comes from Virginia American Water's Alexandria District, which buys treated water from Fairfax Water's Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir plants. Many homes with an Alexandria mailing address in ZIPs such as 22306 through 22312 and 22315 sit in unincorporated Fairfax County and are usually on Fairfax Water instead, so check the name on your bill before calling anyone about the meter.
Virginia American Water notes that a service line can be partly the utility's and partly the customer's, and that plumbing inside the home is the owner's. Where that split falls on your lot is a question for the utility at 1-800-452-6863, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Alexandria's median home was built in 1974, but the 18th-century core of Old Town and the older blocks of Del Ray and Rosemont hold much older houses. Additions and past remodels often leave a patchwork of copper, galvanized and plastic pipe, and every joint between them is a candidate. The utility reports total hardness from 78 to 191 ppm, so scale on valve seats and toilet parts is part of the picture. Virginia American Water also publishes a service line material map, and owners whose line is listed as unknown can send in a photo of the pipe.
Where the water usually goes
| Spot | What you notice | How it is traced |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling under a bathroom | Ring-shaped stain, sagging drywall | Moisture meter, thermal camera, separate shower and drain tests |
| Plaster wall cavity | Peeling paint, soft baseboard | Thermal imaging, a small inspection opening |
| Yard line to the meter | Wet strip of lawn, meter moving | Closing the house valve, acoustic listening |
| Toilet tank | Refills with no one using it | Dye in the tank |
Signs it is time to call
- Two bills in a row showing more water than your household uses
- Pressure that sags upstairs while the first floor seems normal
- A water heater cycling more often, which can point to a hot-side leak
- White crust or dampness on a basement wall near where the supply enters
Seasonal patterns
Winter is when supply pipes along exterior walls and in crawlspaces split, and the damage may not show until the thaw. In spring, Fairfax Water's switch to free chlorine during its April to June flushing can change how the water tastes, which has nothing to do with a leak. Summer storms make it harder to tell a plumbing leak from groundwater in a basement, so a meter test with all fixtures off is the quickest way to sort it out.
Leak Detection questions in Alexandria
How do I know which water utility serves my address?
Will finding the leak mean opening walls or ceilings?
How can I find out what my service line is made of?
Does hard water have anything to do with leaks?
More plumbing services in Alexandria
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