Burst Pipe Repair in Lorton, VA | Plumber Washington DC Pros

If a pipe bursts in your Lorton home, turn the main water valve off and keep away from wet outlets or cords. A plumber can locate the failed pipe or fitting, replace it and test the system. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lorton.

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

Lorton at a glance

Lorton sits in southern Fairfax County along I-95 and Route 1, and its housing is young: in ZIP 22079, the 2000s were the biggest building decade, and only about 17 percent of homes predate 1980. Fairfax Water supplies the area, and its Griffith treatment plant, which treats Occoquan Reservoir water, is nearby. Fairfax Water owns the service line up to and including the meter; past the meter, the line is the customer's.

With houses this new, the pipe itself is rarely worn out. The usual causes are frozen lines in garage and exterior walls, hoses left on outdoor faucets, failed fittings and burst appliance connectors. In attached homes, water from one unit can also travel into the next.

Do this now

Close the main valve, usually in the basement or utility room where the water line enters.
Turn off the water heater at its breaker, or set a gas unit to pilot.
Keep clear of electrical hazards if water is near outlets or the panel.
Open a lower-floor faucet so the rest of the water drains out.
Move valuables and start drying what you can safely reach.
Take photos of the pipe, the water and damaged items.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Lorton.

(202) 915-7612

What you might see

Symptom	Common cause
Water near the washer box	Burst washing machine hose
Wet garage wall after a cold night	Frozen line in an exterior or garage wall
Drip from a ceiling light or vent	Leak in a supply line above
Pressure loss everywhere	Large break on the main supply
Pooling over the yard line	Leak between meter and house

Cost drivers

PEX, CPVC or copper and the fittings needed
Finished basements and ceilings that must be opened
Number of failed joints after a freeze
Excavation for the service line
Off-hours calls

For a problem at the meter or street, Fairfax Water's numbers are 703-698-5800 on weekdays and 703-698-5613 after hours. Fairfax County Land Development Services handles plumbing permits through PLUS at 703-222-0801; a short patch is usually simple, while a reroute may need a permit. If a gas odor turns up, leave the house and call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside.

Burst Pipe Repair questions in Lorton

Who pays to fix a leak between the water meter and the house?

Fairfax Water owns the line up to and including the meter. The pipe from the meter to the house, and everything inside, is the owner's.

Can a pipe burst when it is not freezing?

Yes. In Lorton's newer homes, worn washer hoses, failed fittings and nails through a line during projects cause leaks at any time of year.

Where is the main shutoff valve in most homes here?

In most Lorton homes, look in the basement or utility room where the water line comes through the foundation, often near the water heater. Townhouses may have it in a mechanical closet.

Can I turn the water back on myself after the repair?

Let the plumber handle it. Slowly refilling clears trapped air, and the plumber can watch the new joints under pressure.