Toilet Repair in McLean, VA

What's behind toilet trouble in McLean

McLean sits about 8 miles northwest of downtown Washington, and its typical home was built in 1976. Houses of that age often carry their second or third toilet on the original flange, with shutoff valves that have not been turned in years. Many homes have been remodeled more than once, so it is common to find a newer toilet sitting on older drain parts.

Fairfax Water is the public supplier. Most of its customers get water from its own plants on the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir, and some get Potomac water treated by the Washington Aqueduct. Fairfax Water's Corbalis plant analysis lists total hardness from 70 to 185 mg/L, about 7.5 grains per gallon on average, which is enough to scale tank parts over time. For a water emergency after hours, Fairfax Water's line is 703-698-5613.

Fairfax County's Wastewater Management program runs the public sewer, and the owner maintains the private lateral from the house to the County main.

Repair compared with replacement

Fairfax County Land Development Services lists like-for-like fixture replacement in the same location as exempt from a permit. Relocating a toilet during a remodel is not a like-for-like swap.

Signs to act on

• The tank refills on its own during the night
• Water seeps out under the bowl when it is flushed
• The toilet moves when you sit
• The flush needs a second try
• The valve behind the toilet is crusted or damp

Timing and the seasons

In late spring Fairfax Water changes from chloramines to free chlorine for a few months, so a stronger chlorine smell is expected and not a plumbing problem. Summer humidity makes tanks sweat onto the floor, which can mimic a leak. Heavy summer storms can slow sewers, so a basement toilet that burbles during a downpour should be watched.