Emergency Plumber in Manassas, VA

Calling for help

When you call the number on this page, you're connected with an independent plumber who takes urgent work in Manassas. Be ready to say what failed, whether water or sewage is still moving, whether you got the main closed, and where you are. A cross street near Old Town, Route 28 or Route 234 speeds things up. Ask about after-hours pricing and any trip charge before the visit is set. How soon someone arrives depends on the hour, so no time is promised.

What sets the price

• Time of day. Evenings, weekends and holidays usually cost more than a weekday visit.
• Location of the failure. Exposed basement piping is quicker to repair than a line in a finished wall.
• Scale of the job. A patched fitting is small; a new water heater or sewer section is larger.
• Permits. Equipment covered by the Virginia building code needs a building permit from the City of Manassas Development Services; addresses outside city limits go to Prince William County.

How Manassas differs from its neighbors

The City of Manassas runs its own water, sewer and electric utilities. Its water comes mainly from Lake Manassas on Broad Run, treated at the city's own plant, with supplemental Potomac River water available at peak demand. At about 47 ppm of total hardness, city water is softer than much of the region, so scale is less of a factor in water heater failures here than in nearby towns.

For a water or sewer emergency in the street, the city's after-hours line is 703-257-8353, and Water & Sewer customer service is 703-257-8219 on weekdays. That after-hours line is for city utilities, not gas. Manassas is Columbia Gas of Virginia territory rather than Washington Gas, so a gas smell means leaving the house and calling 911 and Columbia Gas at 1-800-544-5606 from outside.

Many Manassas mailing addresses fall outside city limits in Prince William County, where a different water utility and permit office apply. Your bill shows which. Inside the city, the median home was built in 1985.

Quick checklist before help arrives

• Main valve closed and a low faucet open to drain the lines
• Water heater gas valve or breaker turned off if it's leaking
• Power off to any outlets or appliances sitting in water
• Pets and valuables moved away from the wet area
• A clear path to the water heater, main valve and sewer cleanout