Plumbing Services in Alexandria, VA

Most requested plumbing services in Alexandria

Start with the service that matches your problem. Services marked “Common in Alexandria” are the calls local housing and conditions produce most in Alexandria.

• RepipingCommon in AlexandriaReplacing old galvanized, polybutylene or failing copper lines.
• Sewer Line RepairCommon in AlexandriaRecurring backups, sewer odors, slow fixtures or a damaged sewer line.
• Frozen Pipe RepairCommon in AlexandriaThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage.
• Sewer Camera InspectionOlder homesVideo inspection to find the cause of drain and sewer problems.
• Sump Pump Repair and InstallationStormsSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
• Emergency PlumberBurst pipes, major leaks, sewage backups and no-water situations.
• Drain CleaningSlow drains, recurring clogs and backed-up sinks, tubs and showers.
• Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps.
• Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature.
• Water Heater ReplacementReplacing a failing or leaking tank heater.
• Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes.
• Pipe RepairLeaks, corrosion, cracked lines and low pressure from damaged pipes.

When to call, and what to do first

For the problems Alexandria homeowners call about most, and why they come up here:

• Repiping

  Why it comes up in Alexandria: Historic row houses still carry galvanized and old copper lines.

  Signs:

  Rusty water, falling pressure, repeated pinhole leaks

  Urgent when:

  Leaks keep recurring in different places

  Before help arrives:

  Note where leaks and rust appear; check the pipe at the water heater

  Repair or replace:

  One leak: repair. Failing pipe throughout: repipe

• Sewer Line Repair

  Why it comes up in Alexandria: Very old laterals in Old Town and Del Ray crack and take in roots.

  Signs:

  Several drains slow at once, gurgling, sewage smell

  Urgent when:

  Sewage backing up into a tub, shower or floor drain

  Before help arrives:

  Stop running water; don't use chemical drain cleaners

  Repair or replace:

  One break: spot repair or lining. Collapsed line: replace

• Frozen Pipe Repair

  Why it comes up in Alexandria: Pipes in exterior walls of old brick houses freeze in cold snaps.

  Signs:

  No water at a faucet in freezing weather; frost on a pipe

  Urgent when:

  A pipe has split or water is spraying

  Before help arrives:

  Open the faucet, warm the pipe gently; never use an open flame

  Repair or replace:

  Thawed and intact: no repair. Cracked: replace that section

Why Alexandria homes need these repairs

Alexandria is an independent city across the Potomac from Washington, with 18th- and 19th-century row houses in Old Town and mid-century garden apartments and single-family homes to the west. Its water comes from Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir plants, and very old housing and cold winters drive pipe, sewer and frozen-line calls.

Local conditions behind Alexandria plumbing problems

Median home built

1977

Built before 1980

55%

Owner-occupied

43%

Water hardness

See below

Winter

Regular hard freezes

Plumbing code

Local