Drain Cleaning in Damascus, MD

Signs your drains need attention

• A tub or shower that takes minutes to empty
• Toilets that bubble when the washer drains
• Water seeping up through a basement floor drain
• A kitchen sink that holds water after the dishwasher runs
• Sewer odor near a drain that cleaning does not fix
• On a private system, soggy ground or smell over the drain field

One slow fixture is usually a local clog. Several at once means the main drain, or on a private system, possibly the tank.

Damascus conditions

Damascus is a historically rural community in upper Montgomery County where MD 27, MD 108 and MD 124 meet, about 26 miles from downtown Washington and ringed by family farms. The median home was built in 1984. About 35 percent of homes predate 1980 and another 37 percent date from the 1980s, an older mix than most of upcounty Montgomery. Expect plastic drain lines in most houses, with cast iron more likely in the older ones.

WSSC Water operates a small local treatment plant here, the Damascus Water Resource Recovery Facility, and runs the public sewer in town. For public-side emergencies, its Emergency Service Center is 301-206-4002. Montgomery County gives every property a water and sewer category, and homes outside the sewer categories rely on private onsite systems, so check your bill or the County's category if you are unsure which you have.

What affects the cost

• Clog depth. A trap clog is quick; a blocked building sewer takes a bigger machine.
• Line length. Homes on larger rural lots often have longer runs to the street or the tank.
• Roots and age. Older lines near trees may need cutting and a camera look.
• Private systems. If the tank needs pumping, that is separate service from clearing the drain.
• Timing. Night and weekend calls usually cost more.

What happens when you call

You are connected with an independent plumber who serves Damascus. Say which fixtures are affected, whether the house is on public sewer or a private system, and where the cleanout is if you know. Clearing a clog needs no permit; repairing a sewer service line goes through WSSC Water and a plumber holding a WSSC license.