Plumbing Inspection in Arlington, VA

When an Arlington home is due for one

• You're under contract on a house or condo and the inspection contingency is running
• The main shutoff is stiff, or nobody in the household knows where it is
• Stains show up on a basement ceiling or in the water heater pan
• A floor drain or lower-level toilet gurgles after a heavy summer storm
• The water bill jumped and no drip is obvious

What a plumber looks at in Arlington

Arlington's housing runs from Metro-corridor towers in Rosslyn, Clarendon and Ballston to the single-family streets around Cherrydale, and the median home was built around 1976. Houses of that age often still have original water heater venting, older gate valves and drain lines that have never been filmed.

The County's Water, Sewer, Streets Bureau runs both water and sewer. Water comes from the Potomac River and is treated by the Washington Aqueduct at the Dalecarlia plant, and the County lists hardness at about 8 grains per gallon, enough to leave scale in tanks and aerators over time. The County owns the line from the main through the meter and meter box; everything from the meter to the house is the owner's, so that is the stretch a plumber evaluates. The County says it has found no lead service lines and never used lead on its side, and it explains a scratch-and-magnet test owners can do and report online.

If there's a lawn irrigation system, the County's cross-connection program inspects residential irrigation backflow devices after installation, so the plumber can note whether one is in place. Washington Gas serves the area; if you ever smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1.

What moves the price

• Size of the home, number of bathrooms, and whether it's a detached house, townhouse or condo unit
• Adding a camera run of the sewer lateral
• How easy it is to reach the meter, main shutoff, water heater and cleanout
• Whether you want a written summary to use in negotiations

After you call

The line connects you with an independent local plumber who works in Arlington. Have the address, the year built if you know it, and any contract deadline ready. If the visit turns up work such as a water heater or gas line change, permits go through Arlington County's building and inspections program and its Permit Arlington portal.