Toilet Repair in Vienna, VA

Is Vienna's water hard enough to matter for a toilet?

It plays a part. The Town of Vienna runs its own water system, buying treated water from Fairfax Water and the Washington Aqueduct that comes from the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir. The Town's report calls the water moderately hard to hard, historically 5 to 10 grains per gallon (80 to 170 mg/L). It is disinfected with chloramine most of the year, with a short switch to free chlorine during hydrant flushing. Over the years, minerals build up on fill valves, flapper seats and the small rim holes that rinse the bowl, which leads to running tanks and weaker flushes.

Who do I call if the toilet backs up: the Town or the County?

It depends on your address. The Town of Vienna runs sewer within its sewer service area, and areas with Vienna addresses outside that area are served by Fairfax County. If sewage comes up with no fixture in use, call the sewer owner first so it can check its main; the Town's Water and Sewer customer service is 703-255-6385, and after hours the Town's report points callers to the police non-emergency line at 703-255-6366. A single clogged toilet or one that leaks at the floor is a job for your plumber. The Town's water system also serves many customers outside its corporate boundary, so check your bill.

What does a 1970s Vienna house mean for the repair?

The typical home in town was built in 1971, so original drain fittings, flanges and shutoff valves are common. The Town reports that its service line inventory found nearly all copper service lines, but the plumbing inside older homes has its own age. A leak at the base may need flange work along with a new wax ring, and a multi-turn valve that has not been turned in years is usually replaced. If the job goes beyond a straight swap, Fairfax County Land Development Services issues the permit, and in-town projects also need Town approval uploaded to the County record.

Local note

Many Vienna homes have basements. A basement toilet that bubbles when the washer runs, or that rises in a storm, usually points to the main drain. Mention it on the call.