Sewer Line Repair in Greenbelt, MD

What happens when you call

Your call is routed to an independent local plumber who works in Greenbelt. Expect a few quick questions: which drains are backing up, whether the trouble started suddenly or built up over weeks, and roughly when the home was built. On the visit, the plumber typically opens a cleanout, clears enough of the blockage for a camera, and records the line from the house toward the street. The footage shows whether you're dealing with roots, a crack, a separated joint, a sag or a collapse, and how far out and how deep it is. Only then can anyone give you a real repair plan and price.

What drives the cost

• Type of damage and the length of pipe affected
• Depth of the line and what covers it, from lawn to sidewalk or a shared walkway
• Whether lining is possible or the pipe must be excavated
• Access, including adding a cleanout if there isn't one
• Permits: WSSC for the plumbing, plus a City of Greenbelt permit where the project needs a county building permit

Greenbelt conditions

Greenbelt was laid out in 1937 as a planned New Deal cooperative community, and Old Greenbelt is now a National Historic Landmark District. The median home across the city dates to about 1976, so many properties still have original drain piping from the 1930s through the 1970s. Older cast iron and clay lines are the usual candidates for cracks, scale buildup and root intrusion, especially where large trees line the walkways.

For sewer emergencies, such as sewage coming out of a manhole or a whole row of homes backing up, the city directs residents to WSSC Water's 24-hour Emergency Services Center at 301-206-4002. If only your home is affected, the problem is most likely in the private line and a plumber is the right call. Questions about a city permit go to Greenbelt's permit office at 301-345-5417.

Before the plumber arrives

• Stop using water, including the washer and dishwasher
• Clear a path to the basement, crawlspace or outdoor cleanout
• Note which fixture backed up first and when
• Find any paperwork from earlier drain cleaning or repairs
• Check whether neighbors have the same problem