Inside the City of Fairfax, the City's Department of Public Works handles wastewater service, and plumbing permits come from the City's Code Administration. Many homes here date from the 1960s, so laterals with cracks, roots or corrosion along their length are common candidates for replacement. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
Why Fairfax laterals are wearing out
The City of Fairfax is a small independent city about 16 miles from Washington and still the county seat, though legally separate from Fairfax County. Its housing is older than most of the surrounding area, with a median build year of 1967. Laterals that have been in the ground since the 1960s are often clay or cast iron, and by now many show cracked joints, root intrusion, scale and corrosion. Most of ZIPs 22030 through 22033 outside city limits are unincorporated Fairfax County, where County sewer and County permits apply.
What to do now
- Ease off the drains. Stop laundry and dishwashers until the line is clear.
- Confirm your jurisdiction. Your bill shows whether the City or Fairfax County provides sewer.
- Call the right public line if needed. City wastewater services are at 703-385-7810, with after-hours emergencies at 703-385-7924. Fairfax County addresses use the County's 24-hour line, 703-323-1211.
- Get the line filmed. A camera shows whether the damage is in one spot or spread along the run.
- Choose a method. Bursting or lining for pipe that keeps its slope, a trench for sags or collapses.
- Settle the permit. City plumbing permits go to Code Administration at 10455 Armstrong Street (703-385-7830); County addresses use Land Development Services.
Symptoms and causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Main clog that returns every few months | Roots growing through cracked clay joints |
| Rust flakes or scale on the cleaning cable | Cast iron corroding from the inside |
| Basement floor drain backing up | Restriction in the lateral downstream |
| Odor or soft ground over the line | Break leaking into the soil |
Cost factors
- Length and depth of the lateral
- Material: older clay and cast iron often suit bursting
- Walks, porches, driveways and old trees on the route
- Interior drain pipe under the basement that also needs replacing
- Which office issues the permit and schedules the inspection
A local plumber can explain which of these apply once the camera shows what is in the ground. Older City lots often have porches, brick walks and large trees close to the house, so ask early whether a trenchless method can avoid disturbing them, and get the route marked before you decide.
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Fairfax
How do I find out which utility handles sewer at my address?
My mailing address uses the town's name, but I live outside its limits. Whose rules apply?
What tends to wear out in older sewer laterals around here?
Can a sewer line be replaced in the winter?
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