If a pipe bursts in your Sterling home, shut the main water valve right away and keep away from outlets or cords the water has reached. A plumber can locate the break, replace the damaged pipe and test the system. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Sterling.
Signs of a broken line
- Water seeping under a bathroom vanity or kitchen sink cabinet
- A sagging, wet ceiling panel or drywall
- A sudden fall-off in pressure at every tap
- An outside faucet spraying from the wall after a freeze
- A water bill far higher than usual with no new use
If water is spraying, close the main immediately. A slower leak still needs the valve closed, because damp framing and insulation take a long time to dry.
Sterling's housing and utility
Sterling began with the early-1960s Sterling Park development, and in ZIP 20164 about 43 percent of homes were built before 1980. That is far older than most of Loudoun. Original copper and fittings in these houses have been through many winters, and slab-on-grade or crawlspace layouts put some lines close to cold outer walls.
Loudoun Water supplies Sterling from the Potomac River, with Goose Creek as a backup source. For a break in the street or at a hydrant, call its after-hours emergency line at 571-291-7878 or customer relations at 571-291-7880. Lines on the house side of the meter are generally the owner's. Loudoun Water states it has no lead service lines in its system.
What affects the bill
- Original pipe that needs a longer replacement rather than a short splice
- Opening finished walls, ceilings or cabinets
- Extra cracks found once pressure is restored
- Excavation for a yard line
- Off-hours service
- Permits for bigger reroutes, which Loudoun County Building and Development handles
What happens when you call
You will reach an independent plumber who serves Sterling. Give the location of the leak, the state of the main valve and anything electrical that got wet. On site, the plumber confirms the failure, cuts out the damaged length, installs new pipe and refills the system slowly, then checks for drips at nearby joints. In an older home they may recommend looking at other original sections. Arrival depends on the hour and the plumber's schedule. If you smell gas at any point, leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility from outside; your gas bill names the company.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Sterling
Why do pipes split during a cold snap?
Does one burst pipe mean the house needs repiping?
Water is bubbling up near the street or the meter box. Who do I call?
Does hard water make pipes fail sooner?
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