Water Won't Stop? Emergency Plumber in Fairfax, VA for Leaks and Backups

First five minutes of a plumbing emergency, in order

Most of the damage in a plumbing emergency comes from the water that keeps running while people decide what to do. These steps cover the order that usually limits it.

1. Close the main shutoff inside the house. Turn it clockwise until it stops. The valve at the meter is the utility's equipment, so ask Fairfax Water before you touch it.
2. Keep away from outlets, appliances and the panel if water has reached them. If the breaker is only reachable through standing water, do not go in. Call 911 or Dominion Energy instead.
3. Open one faucet at the lowest point of the house so that pressure drops and the remaining water in the pipes drains out.
4. Photograph the damage before you move or wipe anything.
5. Call and describe what you see, where it is and your street address with ZIP.

Emergency or can it wait? A quick sort

Not every plumbing problem is urgent, and treating a dripping faucet like a burst pipe wastes the attention a real emergency needs. Use the table as a rough guide, then describe your situation on the phone and let the plumber confirm.

Who owns the problem: you, Fairfax Water, Washington Gas or Dominion Energy

The wrong first call costs time. The City of Fairfax lists these contacts for addresses inside the City, and they decide where to start:

• Water leaking from the street, a main or the meter: Fairfax Water, 24-hour line 703-698-5613.
• Water leaking inside the house: a plumber. The pipe is generally yours on the house side of the meter.
• Gas smell: leave the building, call 911, then Washington Gas at 844-927-4427 and choose option 1.
• Electrical hazard from water: 911 and Dominion Energy, not a plumber.

Those contacts come from the City's utility and cable providers page. If your address is in Fairfax County rather than the City, check your bill for your own provider before you rely on them.

What to photograph and write down before work starts

A few minutes of notes make the repair faster and give you a record if you later talk to an insurance company. Coverage depends on your policy, so ask your insurer rather than assuming.

• Where the water entered, and where it is now.
• The room, ceiling or wall that is wet, photographed from two angles.
• Your water meter reading with every fixture off, and the time you took it.
• The age, brand and fuel type of any heater or appliance involved, if you know them.
• Any failed part, kept in a bag instead of thrown away.

Remodels, additions and new fixtures: non-emergency plumbing

This page also covers the plumbing side of general work that has no page of its own, such as a bathroom or kitchen remodel, a renovation or an addition. It covers the pipes, drains and fixture hookups only. It does not cover the tile, cabinets or carpentry around them.

Moving or adding pipes needs a permit

The City of Fairfax requires a plumbing and, where gas is involved, a gas permit to add, remove or relocate piping, fixtures, water heaters and sewer or water connections. Replacing a fixture in the same place with the same kind is exempt, except shower pans. Ask the plumber who pulls the permit, and call Code Administration at 703-385-7830 if you want the rule from the source.

Swapping a fixture in the same spot

A new toilet or faucet where the old one stood is usually the simplest job. If the supply valve under it is stiff or corroded, ask for it to be replaced during the visit so that the next repair does not start with a seized valve. See toilet replacement and repair and sink and faucet work for those jobs.

Commercial and multi-unit buildings

If the building is commercial or has several units, say so when you call. The answer to who owns a pipe, and who pays for the fix, changes with the building.

Phone call: describe the problem and give your address and ZIP

Describe the problem plainly: what is wet, how fast the water is moving and whether you have shut the main off. Give your street address and ZIP, because the right permit office and utility depend on which side of the City line you are on.

The dispatcher routes the call to a plumber serving your area. There is no form, and the phone is the whole process. If a gas smell comes up in the conversation, expect to be told to leave and call 911 first.

Before any work begins, ask what the job includes and when the price is confirmed. License details are available on request, and it is reasonable to ask for them before the plumber starts.

Where each emergency is covered in more detail

This page stays broad on purpose. For the problem in front of you, these pages go further:

• A pipe that has split or is spraying: burst pipe repair.
• Several drains backing up at once: sewer line problems.
• A water bill that jumped or a wall that is damp for no clear reason: finding hidden leaks.
• A tank that is leaking or a heater that has gone cold: water heater repair.
• Floors, drywall or carpet that got wet: drying and cleanup after a leak.
• Any smell of gas: gas line repair, after the utility has made the area safe.

When you are ready to compare prices, what moves a plumbing price is set out on the cost page. The questions callers ask most are answered on the FAQs page.