Reston is an unincorporated planned community, so businesses deal with Fairfax Water for water, Fairfax County for sewer and Fairfax County Land Development Services for permits. When a leak, backup or water heater failure hits during business hours, a few quick steps limit the damage. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Reston.
Reston's commercial mix
Reston was laid out from 1964 around village centers such as Lake Anne, Hunters Woods and South Lakes, with Reston Town Center and Silver Line stations adding dense office and retail space. The median home dates from 1983, so many buildings and their mechanical rooms are entering the age when valves, water heaters and flush hardware fail.
What to do now
- Stop the water. Close the fixture valve or the building's main shutoff. Fairfax Water owns the meter, but the shutoff and everything past it are yours.
- Protect people and stock. Rope off wet floors, move inventory and cut power to anything near the water if it's safe to do so.
- Smell gas? Leave. Get everyone out, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside.
- Sewage backing up? Stop using fixtures and call Fairfax County's 24-hour line, 703-323-1211. The County checks its main; a blockage in the private lateral is the owner's to clear.
- Write down what you see. Note where the water started, what was running and when. Photos help tenants, landlords and insurers.
- Call for a plumber. Say whether you need to stay open so the work can be planned around customers.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Restaurant floor drain backing up | Grease buildup in the line or an overdue interceptor |
| No hot water by mid-shift | Undersized heater, failed element or scale in the tank |
| Flush valves cycling on their own | Worn diaphragm or debris in the valve |
| Ceiling stain under a restroom | Leaking supply, wax seal or drain joint above |
| Backflow device dripping from the relief port | Fouled check or relief valve that needs service and a retest |
Fairfax Water's finished water is moderately hard to hard, averaging about 7.5 grains per gallon from its Potomac plant, so scale shows up in commercial heaters and ice machines over time. Testable backflow assemblies must be tested at installation, after repairs and at least yearly under the County's cross-connection program.
Cost factors
- How many floors, suites or fixtures are affected
- Access through finished ceilings or shared walls in mixed-use buildings
- Off-hours scheduling around tenants and diners
- Locating work such as camera inspections
- Permits filed with Fairfax County in PLUS
Commercial Plumbing questions in Reston
Who pays for plumbing repairs in a leased commercial space?
Do fire sprinkler and irrigation connections need backflow protection?
Can the work happen at night or on a weekend so we stay open?
What does the local water do to commercial water heaters and kitchen equipment?
More plumbing services in Reston
Commercial Plumbing nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Fairfax County: utility providers
- Fairfax Water: your plumbing
- Fairfax Water: Corbalis plant finished-water analyses
- Fairfax County Wastewater Management
- Fairfax County LDS: cross connections and backflow prevention
- Fairfax County LDS: household appliance and plumbing permits
- Washington Gas: safety and the emergency leak line
- Reston housing by year built
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