Gainesville's homes are among the newest in the region, so faucet trouble usually means original builder cartridges, O-rings and supply hoses wearing out. Prince William Water's moderately hard water adds some scale. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Gainesville.
Gainesville water and housing
Only about 4 percent of homes in ZIP 20155 were built before 1980, and the 2000s were the biggest building decade. Most kitchens and baths here have single-handle cartridge or ceramic-disc faucets from the original builder. Those are now old enough for cartridges to wear and for supply hoses to deserve a look. Braided hoses can bulge or fray at the crimped ends after many years, and a failed hose releases far more water than a dripping spout, so it is worth checking them whenever a faucet is serviced.
Prince William Water serves most of Gainesville. It buys most of its water from Fairfax Water, and customers in the western part of the county may receive water treated at the City of Manassas plant from Lake Manassas. Prince William Water rates its East and West systems as moderately hard, 3.5 to 7.0 grains per gallon (60 to 120 mg/L). Prince William Water owns the meter; lines and connections on private property, including every faucet, are the owner's responsibility.
Repair or replace?
| Issue | Repair | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Drip from the spout | Cartridge swap | If parts are discontinued |
| Leak at the base | O-rings and mounting nut | If the body is cracked |
| Pull-down hose leaking | New hose | If the faucet head also fails |
| Want a new style or touchless | Not applicable | New faucet |
Signs to look for
- A drip that persists after the handle is closed
- Water around the faucet base or deck plate
- Swollen particleboard in the sink cabinet
- A sprayer that leaks under the sink when you use it
- A handle that sticks or does not center
Timing and seasonal notes
Hose bibs on newer homes are often frost-free, but they still crack if a hose is left attached during a hard freeze, because water stays trapped in the valve. Disconnect hoses in fall. Inside, many neighboring homes were built by the same builders with the same faucets, so parts are usually easy to find. Prince William County's Building Development Division issues building and trade permits in Gainesville if you plan to add or move plumbing. Outlying rural properties should confirm their water source, since not every address is on the public system. For a main break or outage on the utility side, Prince William Water's emergency dispatch is (703) 335-7990.
Faucet Repair questions in Gainesville
How hard is the water here, and does it matter for faucets?
Why does my outdoor spigot drip after a cold winter?
Can I buy the faucet myself and have a plumber install it?
Where is the main shutoff if the valves under the sink fail?
More plumbing services in Gainesville
Faucet Repair nearby
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