Sewer line replacement in Fort Washington means new pipe from your house to the WSSC Water sewer main. The area was rural until about 1960 and its median home dates to 1980, so many of the first subdivision lines are now old enough to fail along their whole length. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.
Fort Washington at a glance
Fort Washington is an unincorporated part of southern Prince George's County along the Potomac, and WSSC Water provides its water and sewer. Neighborhoods off Indian Head Highway, Livingston Road and Old Fort Road were built across several decades, from the early 1960s subdivisions to riverfront homes and newer streets, so pipe materials vary widely. Hilly lots and long runs down to the street are common, which affects both the method and the cost of a replacement.
Age is only part of the story. Lines from the first wave of building after 1960 can be clay or cast iron that has cracked and taken in roots, while plastic lines in later sections tend to fail where the trench settled or a joint shifted on a slope. A camera inspection sorts out which situation you have before anyone talks about price.
What to do right now
- Cut back on water use so the backup does not get worse.
- Look outside. If sewage is coming from a manhole or neighbors have the same problem, call WSSC Water at 301-206-4002.
- Locate the cleanout near the foundation or in the basement so the plumber can get a camera in quickly.
- Protect the basement. Move stored items off the floor and keep children and pets away from any sewage.
- Gather the history: past clearings, any earlier camera video, and when the house was built.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Backups every few months | Roots re-entering through cracks or loose joints |
| Water pooling in a floor drain after flushing | A main-line blockage or partial collapse |
| Gurgling in toilets on a sloped lot | A sag or offset interrupting the flow |
| A soft or sunken spot over the line | A break washing out the soil |
Cost factors
- Length and depth of the run, which can be long on larger or sloping lots
- Trenchless lining or bursting versus open excavation
- Driveways, retaining walls, landscaping or mature trees over the route
- Interior drain work under a basement floor
- The WSSC permit and inspection: in Prince George's County all plumbing permits come from WSSC Water, and the work must be done by a plumber holding a WSSC license
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Fort Washington
When does replacing the whole sewer line make more sense than a spot repair?
What affects the price of a sewer line replacement?
Do underground utilities need to be marked before the digging starts?
Who issues the permit for replacing a sewer line here?
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