Drain Cleaning in Lanham, MD

Local conditions

Lanham is an unincorporated, fully built-out inner suburb along the Capital Beltway, next to New Carrollton's Metro and Amtrak station. The Lanham mailing address covers more than the census community, including Seabrook. With a median home built in 1969, a typical Lanham house has had more than half a century of grease, soap and roots working on its drains. Homes of that era often have cast iron inside, with clay or early plastic laterals in the yard, and mature trees along older streets add root pressure.

WSSC Water runs the public sewer. Sewage overflowing from a manhole or the street goes to WSSC's emergency line at 301-206-4002. Building permits for this unincorporated area come from Prince George's County DPIE, while WSSC Water issues plumbing permits and does inspections.

Snaking, jetting or a camera?

Many older Lanham lines are best served by cabling first, then a camera look if the clog was heavy or roots came back on the head.

Signs it is time to call

• Water backs into the basement shower or laundry tub
• Toilets gurgle or drain slowly after the tub empties
• More than one drain is slow at once
• Sewer odor near a floor drain or cleanout

Timing

Root growth picks up in spring and summer, and that is when partly blocked laterals tend to fail. If your line was cleared for roots last year, consider scheduling a maintenance cleaning before the growing season rather than waiting for the next backup. Big summer storms can expose a main line that is already restricted. During the holidays, extra cooking and guests fill kitchen and bathroom lines. If a line needs replacing, the job requires a plumber registered with WSSC Water and a WSSC permit, so allow time for that step.