Yes, Leesburg and much of Loudoun County have moderately hard to hard water. While the Town of Leesburg water treatment facilities do an excellent job, mineral content (calcium and magnesium) is still high enough to cause scale buildup on fixtures and shorten the lifespan of water heaters. We recommend flushing your water heater annually or installing a water softener if you notice white crusty buildup.

In Leesburg homes built between 1990 and 2010, the most common cause is a failing Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV). The public water pressure in many Northern Virginia neighborhoods is pumped at a high psi to reach fire hydrants. Your home’s PRV steps this down to a safe level (50–60 psi). When these fail, you risk appliance damage from high pressure.

Many homes built in Loudoun County between 1978 and 1995 still contain Polybutylene (grey plastic) piping. This piping is prone to sudden rupture due to chlorine degradation. If you live in an established neighborhood like Potomac Station or older sections of Ashburn, check your unfinished basement ceiling for grey pipes.

Leesburg’s clay-heavy soil retains water, creating a high water table during rainy Virginia springs. It is normal for your pump to cycle frequently during heavy rains. If your pump is older than 7–10 years or lacks a battery backup, you are at risk of basement flooding during summer storms.

Homes in the Historic Downtown District often face issues with aging cast iron drain lines and galvanized steel water pipes. Unlike modern PVC or copper, these materials corrode from the inside out. Common signs include rust-colored water or slow drains. We specialize in diagnosing these systems without unnecessary destruction.

No. Even if the package says safe, they do not break down quickly enough for residential sewer laterals or septic systems common in Lucketts and rural Loudoun. These items are the #1 cause of major sewer backups we clear at Stoney’s Plumbing.