Sewer Line Repair in Centreville, VA

Is it the main line?

• Several drains slow down together rather than one at a time
• Flushing an upstairs toilet makes the basement shower drain bubble
• Water seeps around the floor drain or a cleanout in the utility room
• A sewage smell lingers outside near the foundation
• The yard over the line stays soft or unusually green

Centreville specifics

Centreville is the most populous community in Fairfax County, about 23 miles west of Washington where I-66, U.S. 29 and Route 28 meet. Most of it was built in the 1980s and 1990s, and the median home dates to 1991, so the typical building sewer is plastic rather than cast iron or clay. That doesn't make it trouble-free. Newer lines fail where trench backfill settled and left a sag, where a deck or addition was built over the route, or where a joint was knocked loose during later work.

Fairfax County makes the property owner responsible for the private lateral, and the County does not locate or mark those private lines. If sewage backs up and the problem could be in the street, the County's 24-hour line, 703-323-1211, will check the public main. If the main is flowing, the blockage is on your side and a plumber takes it from there. Permits for repaired or relocated plumbing come from Fairfax County Land Development Services through its PLUS system.

Cost factors

• How deep the line runs and how long the damaged stretch is
• Townhouse communities, where access to the line can be tight
• Landscaping, patios and driveways that must be opened and restored
• The choice between a liner, a spot repair or new pipe
• Whether a cleanout has to be added for access
• County permit and inspection

What the call looks like

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Centreville. Expect questions about which fixtures are affected, how long it has been going on and whether anyone has cleared the line before. Most jobs begin by opening the line so the house is usable again. A camera inspection then finds the defect and measures its depth, and the plumber walks you through the repair choices. You decide on the work once you've seen the footage, and you can ask for a copy to keep with the house records.