In and around the City of Fairfax, toilet trouble is usually a worn flapper or fill valve, a leaking wax seal or a clog, and many homes are old enough that the shutoff and flange need attention too. Most of it can be repaired rather than replaced. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
The City of Fairfax is an independent city and the county seat, ringed by unincorporated Fairfax County neighborhoods that share the Fairfax mailing name. Homes in and around the city date to about 1967 on average, so original drain fittings under bathrooms are common. Fairfax Water supplies the area from the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir. Inside city limits, the City's Department of Public Works runs the sewer; county addresses are on Fairfax County sewer. Fairfax Water's Corbalis plant water ranges from 70 to 185 mg/L in total hardness, enough to scale tank parts over the years, and it is disinfected with chloramines most of the year and free chlorine from about April to June.
What to do now
- Shut off the toilet. Close the valve behind it. If the valve is old and won't move, close the main instead of forcing it.
- Don't flush again. Wait until the bowl level drops or the clog is cleared.
- Find out how far the water went. Check the floor, the baseboards and any ceiling below.
- Run a nearby sink briefly. If the toilet bubbles or rises, the blockage is farther down the line.
- Call the right sewer office for a spill. In the city, Wastewater Services is 703-385-7810, or 703-385-7924 after hours. In the county, the 24-hour line is 703-323-1211.
- Write down what you saw. When it started and which fixtures were involved helps the plumber.
Signs and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Tank refills on its own | Flapper or seat worn or scaled |
| Water runs into the overflow tube | Fill valve set high or failing |
| Wet floor around the base | Failed wax ring or corroded flange |
| Toilet rocks | Loose bolts or uneven floor |
| Valve behind toilet drips | Old packing or a worn valve |
| Several drains back up | Clog in the main line or lateral |
What affects cost
- Tank parts only, or pulling and resetting the toilet
- Repairing an older flange or the floor under it
- Replacing an original shutoff and supply line
- Clog location and the equipment needed
- Tile or wood flooring that has to be protected or patched
- Choosing a new toilet, including hauling the old one away
- Calls on nights or weekends
Toilet Repair questions in Fairfax
Do I need a permit to replace a toilet?
The toilet and the basement floor drain backed up together. Who do I call?
Does the hardness of the local water wear out toilet parts?
The shutoff valve behind the toilet won't turn or it drips. What now?
More plumbing services in Fairfax
Toilet Repair nearby
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Sources
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