Inside the City of Fairfax, the City's Department of Public Works handles wastewater service, while unincorporated Fairfax-addressed areas are on Fairfax County's system. In either case, the lateral from your house to the public sewer is private plumbing that a plumber repairs. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
About Fairfax
The City of Fairfax is a small independent city about 16 miles from Washington and still the county seat, though it's legally separate from Fairfax County. Its median home dates to 1967, one of the older housing stocks in the area, and many laterals laid in that era are clay or cast iron. Most of the area within ZIPs 22030-22033 outside city limits is unincorporated Fairfax County, where County sewers and County permits apply instead.
What to do now
- Stop running water: no showers, laundry, dishwasher or flushing.
- Figure out who provides sewer. Inside city limits, the City's wastewater services line is 703-385-7810, and after hours and emergencies go to 703-385-7924. In unincorporated areas, Fairfax County's 24-hour line is 703-323-1211.
- Call the utility if sewage is coming from a manhole or neighbors are affected.
- Find the cleanout and clear the area around it.
- If only your house is affected, call a plumber to open the line and run a camera.
Symptom and likely cause
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water in the basement floor drain when the washer empties | Blockage in the building drain or lateral |
| Clog returns within weeks of clearing | Roots through a clay joint or a broken section |
| Slow drains throughout the house | Scale buildup in cast iron or a partial obstruction |
| Sewage odor near the foundation outside | Cracked pipe or a missing cleanout cap |
| Sunken strip of lawn | Soil washing into a broken pipe |
Cost factors
- Clay, cast iron or plastic, and how much of the run is damaged
- Depth and distance from the house to the defect
- Mature trees, driveways and walkways over the line
- Lining versus excavation and new pipe
- Permits: City of Fairfax Code Administration inside city limits (703-385-7830), or Fairfax County Land Development Services outside
In a 1960s house, it's worth asking the plumber to check the building drain inside the house as well, since cast iron under a basement floor can scale and crack the same way the outdoor lateral does. Knowing the condition of both sections before choosing a repair avoids fixing the yard line only to have the indoor drain fail a year later. Ask for the camera footage so you have a record of what was found and where.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Fairfax
My mailing address names the town, but I live outside its limits. Who handles my sewer?
What are sewer laterals under older homes here usually made of?
Do I need a permit to repair a sewer line here?
Sewage is coming up through a basement floor drain. What should I do first?
More plumbing services in Fairfax
Sewer Line Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: