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Burst Pipe Repair in Fairfax, VA

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Older homes near Old Town Fairfax and George Mason have decades-old supply lines, and a hard freeze finds the weak ones.

Burst pipe in Fairfax?
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When a pipe bursts in a Fairfax home, close the main water valve and keep out of any water that has reached outlets or cords. A plumber can find the rupture, replace the failed section and test the line. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.

Burst copper pipe spraying water inside an opened drywall cavity, burst pipe repair in Fairfax, VA

Fairfax in brief

The City of Fairfax is an independent city, legally separate from Fairfax County, and much of the area with a Fairfax mailing address lies outside city limits in the county. Fairfax Water supplies both. The median home in the area was built in 1967, so many houses have original copper or steel supply lines that have seen more than fifty winters.

Pipe that has sat in a wall that long tends to give out first at joints and valves, and a sharp freeze followed by a thaw is often what finally opens a weak spot. Outdoor faucets on older houses are frequently not frost-free, so the pipe just behind them is especially exposed.

First steps

  1. Shut the main. Look where the line enters the house, usually in the basement or a utility room.
  2. Turn off the water heater. Breaker off for electric, pilot for gas.
  3. Avoid wet electrical areas. Keep clear of outlets, cords and the panel if water has reached them.
  4. Drain what is left. Open a faucet on the lowest floor.
  5. Protect belongings. Move furniture and electronics, and lift rugs.
  6. Photograph everything before cleanup for the insurance claim.
  7. If gas smell appears, leave and call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside.
Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
(202) 915-7612

Symptoms and causes

SymptomLikely cause
Rusty water when the main is reopenedAging galvanized steel near the break
Ceiling drip in a room below a bathSplit supply, failed valve or loose fitting
Basement wall wet under an outdoor faucetFrozen spigot line cracked inside the wall
Whole-house pressure goneMajor rupture on the main supply
Wet lawn strip between street and houseLeak in the private service line

Cost factors

  • Age and material of the pipe around the break
  • Opening plaster or finished drywall versus exposed joists
  • Extra cracks found when pressure is restored
  • Yard digging for a service line
  • After-hours scheduling
  • Permits: inside the city, plumbing permit applications go to the City's Code Administration at 703-385-7830; county addresses go to Fairfax County Land Development Services

For a problem at the meter or the street, Fairfax Water's line is 703-698-5800. If the trouble is sewage backing up rather than a pipe break, the City's wastewater services after-hours line is 703-385-7924, and county addresses call 703-323-1211.

Burst Pipe Repair questions in Fairfax

My water provider depends on the address. How do I know whom to call?
Inside city limits, the City of Fairfax handles sewers and permits; outside them, Fairfax County does. Both areas get water from Fairfax Water, so a break at the street goes to Fairfax Water at 703-698-5800.
Does a burst pipe repair need a permit here?
Inside the City of Fairfax, plumbing permits go through Code Administration at 703-385-7830; county addresses use Fairfax County Land Development Services. A short like-for-like patch often needs none, so ask the plumber.
Does one burst pipe mean the house needs repiping?
In a home from the 1960s, a burst in old steel or thin copper can be an early warning. One crack does not mean a repipe, but ask the plumber how the nearby pipe looks.
Is it safe to step into a flooded basement?
Not while water could touch outlets, cords or the panel. Wait until the electric utility or an electrician has cut the power.

More plumbing services in Fairfax

Emergency Plumber in FairfaxRepiping in FairfaxLeak Detection in FairfaxWater Line Repair in FairfaxPlumbing Inspection in FairfaxAll plumbing services in Fairfax

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Helpful guides

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(202) 915-7612

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