Plumber in Great Falls, VA

Check exposed pipe near the water heater or under sinks: polybutylene is usually gray (sometimes blue or black), flexible plastic, often stamped 'PB2110.' Homes built 1978–1995 in Fairfax and Arlington counties are prime candidates. If you find it, don't panic — but do get a repipe assessment, because PB fails without warning and many insurers surcharge or decline it.

Because the storms that flood NoVA basements are the same storms that knock out power. Clay soil sends stormwater straight to your foundation drain, and a finished basement turns a failed pump into a five-figure claim. Battery backup keeps the pit dry through the outage.

Anything actively causing damage or making the home unlivable: burst or spraying pipes, sewage backing up, no water at all, a gas water heater leaking, or a leak you can't stop at a valve. First step is always the same — close the main shut-off, then call.