Faucet Repair in Ashburn, VA

Why do faucets in newer Ashburn homes start leaking?

Only about 2 percent of homes in the 20147 ZIP predate 1980, and the biggest building wave came in the 2000s. That makes many kitchen and bath faucets fifteen to thirty years old, which is when builder-grade cartridges and O-rings tend to give out. Braided supply hoses from the original install are also reaching an age where they should be inspected; a failed hose under a second-floor vanity can do more damage than any drip. Swapping a cartridge or a hose is usually quick on the common brands used in Ashburn subdivisions.

Does Ashburn's water affect faucet parts?

Ashburn is on Loudoun Water's Central System, which draws mainly from the Potomac River, with Goose Creek as needed, and treats water at its Trap Rock facility and through water bought from Fairfax Water. Loudoun Water uses chloramine as its disinfectant. That matters if you want a filter tap at the kitchen sink: look for a cartridge rated for chloramine. Loudoun Water's annual water quality report is the place to check current hardness figures before deciding on a softener. Loudoun Water states its system has no lead service lines.

Who handles a faucet that will not shut off?

Inside the house, it is you and your plumber. Close the valves under the sink first, then the main shutoff if needed. If you see water coming up in the yard or at the meter, that may be on Loudoun Water's side; its after-hours emergency line is 571-291-7878. A straight faucet replacement is ordinary repair work. Projects that add or relocate plumbing go through Loudoun County Building and Development, where trade permits are filed under a parent building permit.

A note for Ashburn homeowners

Many Ashburn homes share the same few faucet brands from their original builders, and parts for those are easy to find. Before the plumber comes, look under the sink for the brand label or the old box, check whether the stops turn, and note whether the leak is at the spout, the handle or the lines below. If you plan to replace the faucet anyway, an inspection of the other original supply hoses in the house during the same visit is a sensible add-on.