Alexandria is a city of old pipes and new infrastructure. Old Town's combined sewers just got their century-overdue fix, the Potomac still floods the waterfront, and the historic homes run plumbing older than most states — Plumbing Pros works on all of it.

Old pipes, new tunnel: plumbing in Alexandria

Alexandria is one of the oldest cities in the region — a colonial port on the Potomac, now a dense, built-up city of around 160,000 across the river from Washington. Old Town's brick rowhouses and 18th-century streets sit minutes from the mid-century neighborhoods of Del Ray and Rosemont, the condo corridors of the West End, and the commercial blocks of Carlyle and Eisenhower Valley.

The housing spans three centuries: colonial-era homes and brick rowhouses in Old Town, Victorian streets in Del Ray and Rosemont, postwar neighborhoods, and the condo corridors of the West End, Carlyle and Eisenhower Valley. It's a dense, built-up city — tight basements, narrow streets, infrastructure rebuilt in layers. Every era left its own pipe in the ground, and every era's pipe fails differently.

Two local facts shape the work here: the sewers and the river. Both have long histories in Alexandria, both have seen major fixes in recent years, and both still test the pipes at the house level — which is where our work usually starts.

Drinking water comes from Virginia American Water, treated at Fairfax Water's Potomac River and Occoquan plants; wastewater goes to AlexRenew. The oldest homes run plumbing from earlier centuries, and the newer buildings have their own wear patterns from density and turnover.

Plumbing Pros works across all of Alexandria's listed ZIPs: sewer and drain work, sump pump service, repipes and service-line replacements, water heaters, and the everyday fixture jobs. Call (877) 401-2673 and tell us what you're seeing.

A crew that reads Alexandria's houses by era

Three centuries of plumbing, one honest approach

Alexandria has been plumbed, replumbed and plumbed again for three centuries, and the houses show every era of it. Plumbing Pros works across that whole timeline: lead and galvanized services in the oldest homes, cast-iron drains under the mature streets, combined-sewer laterals in Old Town, and the condo buildings that keep the West End humming. We start every job the same way — cameras, pressure gauges, pump tests — because a backup in a colonial rowhouse and a backup in a 1970s condo are different problems, and the fix has to match the cause. When the honest answer is a lateral replacement or a repipe, we say so and put it in writing. When it's a worn flapper or a stuck check valve, we say that and charge for that. No scare stories about old houses, no upsells — just the work this city actually needs, priced plainly.

• We quote from evidence, not guesses — you see the camera footage and the readings before you approve anything.
• We know the old districts: combined-sewer laterals, lead services, and the access quirks of historic construction.
• We work with condo owners and property managers, with documentation built for building requirements.
• We put every job in writing before starting, so the price and the plan are yours to approve.
• We protect historic finishes — brick, plaster, old wood — and restore yards after digging.
• We leave written notes on every job, useful for inspections, insurance and future buyers.

Why Alexandria homeowners call Plumbing Pros

• Historic-district fluency: Lead services, galvanized runs, cast-iron drains and combined-sewer laterals are familiar territory, not surprises.
• Storm-season know-how: We size and place backwater valves and sump pumps for the way water actually shows up here — river floods and sewer surcharge alike.
• Honest options in writing: Repair or replace, spot fix or system plan — the real choices with real numbers, and the call is yours.
• Respect for old construction: Drop cloths, careful access through brick and plaster, restored grade outdoors.
• Condo and manager friendly: Clear pricing and documentation that works for building requirements and turnover schedules.
• Clear records to keep: Written notes on every job — useful for inspectors, insurance claims and future buyers.
• One-visit readiness: Our trucks carry the parts that match Alexandria's housing, so most calls finish without a return trip.

The plumbing jobs Alexandria calls us about most

Old Town's combined-sewer legacy and storm backups

Old Town ran on a combined sewer system for well over a century — one pipe carrying both sewage and stormwater, which overflowed into the Potomac on nearly every decent rain. RiverRenew's new waterfront tunnel, completed in 2026, ended the worst of the overflows, but the laterals feeding into that system are still old, and heavy rain still tests them. Backups that hit the lowest drain first during storms point downstream. We camera-inspect the lateral, locate the break or the root intrusion, and repair the section that's actually failing — then confirm the line runs clear before we leave.

Potomac flooding reaching basements near the waterfront

The waterfront along King Street and Union Street floods when the Potomac runs high, and the low-lying streets behind it take on water too. Sump pumps, check valves and backwater valves are the equipment that keeps river water and sewer surcharge out of basements — but only when they're tested and working. We test pumps under load, clear discharge lines, and make sure the valves that are supposed to shut actually shut.

Centuries-old plumbing in the historic districts

Colonial and Victorian-era rowhouses and detached homes still run original plumbing: galvanized supply lines, cast-iron drains, and in the oldest cases lead services. Pressure fades as galvanized rusts shut; cast iron scales and cracks. We locate service lines and identify materials, map the failing runs with pressure tests and cameras, and repipe with modern materials — opening the fewest walls these tight old houses allow.

Moderately hard water scaling heaters and fixtures

Virginia American Water's published water quality data lists Alexandria's hardness around 6.6 grains per gallon — moderately hard. That level won't destroy a system, but it slowly scales tank heaters, showerheads and dishwasher parts, and it spots glassware. A softener is a comfort and equipment-life choice here rather than a necessity. If scale is visibly building up, we test your water and size treatment to the test.

Roots breaking into old laterals under mature streets

Mature street trees in Rosemont, Del Ray and the older West End neighborhoods have had decades to find clay and cast-iron laterals. Backups at the lowest drain, several fixtures gurgling at once, or a cleanout that overflows during laundry day all point at the main line. We locate the break with a camera and surface locator, repair the bad section or replace the lateral, and restore the yard when the digging is done.

Turnover wear in condos and rental buildings

Condo and apartment turnover in the West End and the denser corridors means fixtures and drains get worked hard: disposals jammed, toilets running, kitchen lines loaded with grease. Property managers call us for turnover repairs that have to be done right and documented; residents call for the problems that can't wait. Either way, the pricing is in writing before we start.

How a service visit works in Alexandria

1. Tell us what you're seeing: Start with the symptom in your own words — which drain, which wall, whether it's worse after rain. In a city of old houses and old sewers, when it happens matters as much as what happens.
2. We confirm with cameras and gauges: We confirm the cause on site: scope the drains, test the pressure, run the pumps — and explain what we found in plain terms.
3. Options in writing, your call: Repair or replace, spot fix or system plan — written out with what each costs and buys you. Nothing starts until you approve the plan, and if both paths are honest, you hear both.
4. The work, done with care: We protect floors and finishes, do the work to code, and keep the site contained — whether that's a colonial basement with tight access or a condo that needs to be back in service. Brick, plaster and historic finishes get treated accordingly.
5. Walkthrough and written notes: A walkthrough of what was done, before-and-after footage where it helps, and written notes on the repair and anything worth watching. That's the handoff.

Where we work across Alexandria

Our Alexandria service area covers the city's full listed ZIP range, Old Town through the West End: 22301, 22302, 22303, 22304, 22305, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, 22311, 22312, 22313, 22314, 22315, 22320, 22331, 22332, 22333, 22334 and 22350. That runs from Old Town and the Potomac waterfront — with its combined-sewer legacy and historic plumbing — through Del Ray, Rosemont and Seminary Hill, the Carlyle and Eisenhower Valley corridors, and out to the West End. We handle the full range: sewer laterals and backwater protection in the old districts, sump pump service near the waterfront, repipes and service-line replacements in the historic housing, water heater replacements, and everyday fixture work everywhere else. We also take the routine calls — leaking faucets, running toilets, jammed disposals, worn hose bibbs and laundry hookups — because in a city with plumbing this old, small problems turn into big ones faster than you'd expect. Wherever you are in Alexandria's ZIPs, we diagnose with instruments and price in writing. Don't see your ZIP code? Call (877) 401-2673 and we'll confirm coverage.

Zip Codes We Serve in Alexandria

22301, 22302, 22303, 22304, 22305, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, 22311, 22312, 22313, 22314, 22315, 22320, 22331, 22332, 22333, 22334, 22350

Testimonials

Every heavy rain, the basement floor drain would back up. They ran a camera and found roots in the old lateral, cleared it, and installed a backwater valve. The next big storm came through and the basement stayed dry for the first time in years.

Our 1920s house had galvanized pipe and the water pressure was a joke. They mapped the rusted runs and repiped the worst of it, with written options for the rest. The final bill matched the quote and they left the place clean.

Disposal jammed, toilet running, kitchen drain slow — the usual turnover trifecta. They fixed all three in one visit, priced it up front, and gave me paperwork for the building manager. Straightforward and done.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Alexandria's combined sewer problem?

Mostly history now. For over a century, Old Town's sewers carried sewage and stormwater in one pipe, and nearly every hard rain flushed the mix straight into the Potomac. Since the RiverRenew tunnel went live in 2026, overflows have dropped from roughly 70 a year to fewer than four. That chapter is closed — what remains is maintaining the older house-side laterals that connect to the new system.

Do sewers still back up in Old Town during storms?

If the camera shows your lateral is sound, the surge is coming from the street side — that's when a backwater valve earns its keep. Storm-only backups need a different diagnosis than everyday clogs: one looks at the condition of the pipe, the other looks at when the water shows up. Start by noting the timing, then call (877) 401-2673 and we'll scope the line.

How do I protect my basement from Potomac flooding?

Check it before storm season, not after. Pour water into the sump pit until the pump kicks on and moves it out — a pump that hums without moving water is a dead pump. Walk the discharge line to confirm it carries water away from the foundation, and make sure check valves actually shut. If any of that is uncertain, call (877) 401-2673 and we'll run the flood-specific checklist.

What is the difference between Virginia American Water and AlexRenew?

Virginia American Water delivers your drinking water — it treats Potomac River and Occoquan water at Fairfax Water's plants and pipes it to your curb stop. AlexRenew handles the other end: the sewer mains and the treatment plant that cleans wastewater before it returns to the river. One brings water in, the other takes it away — and your home's lines connect to both.

Could my historic home have a lead water line?

Some of the oldest homes may — lead services date to houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries. The giveaway is a dull gray pipe where the water line enters the house, though galvanized steel can look similar, so confirm before planning anything. Replacing a lead service is the one plumbing job that also protects your drinking water.

Who owns the water and sewer lines to my house?

Generally, Virginia American Water owns the water main and the connection to the curb stop, and you own the service line from there into the house. For sewers, AlexRenew handles the mains and treatment — you own the lateral from your house to the main. A leak or break on your side of either is your repair. If you're unsure where your lines run, we can locate them before there's an emergency.

What affects the cost of a repipe in Alexandria?

The real cost drivers: how much wall, floor or ground has to open to reach the pipe, what material goes back in, the condition of everything connected to it, and whether the work can be scheduled or can't wait. Alexandria adds its own factors — tight historic-district access, brick and plaster construction, and permits. Call (877) 401-2673 and we'll look at the site and give you a written number to decide on.

Which parts of Alexandria do you cover?

All of them. Our service area covers Alexandria's full listed ZIP range, from Old Town and the waterfront through the West End — historic rowhouses, mid-century streets and condo corridors alike. If your ZIP is in the list above, you're covered.

Our Services

• Backflow Prevention Testing & Installation Near Me — Call for pricing
• Bathroom Plumbing Remodel Near Me — Call for pricing
• Bathtub Repair & Installation Near Me — Call for pricing
• Burst Pipe Repair Near Me — Call for pricing
• Commercial Plumbing Services Near Me — Call for pricing

Other Service Areas in Virginia

• Fairfax
• Herndon
• Manassas
• Leesburg
• Fredericksburg
• All Virginia Service Areas