Sewer Line Replacement in Oakton, VA

What happens when you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who serves Oakton. Tell the plumber which drains are backing up, whether water appears at a lower-level floor drain, and when the line was last cleaned. The plumber opens the line, sends a camera through it and records the material, depth and each defect. With that footage you can compare a trenchless replacement with an open trench, and see whether the whole run needs to go or only part of it.

Cost factors in Oakton

• Distance from the house to the public main and the depth of the pipe
• Whether the line holds enough slope for bursting or lining
• Paved driveways, wooded lots, retaining walls and landscaped beds over the route
• Extra drain pipe inside the house that should be replaced at the same time
• The Fairfax County permit, and any Town requirements if your address is on Vienna service

Local conditions

Oakton is a fully suburban, unincorporated community in central Fairfax County between the City of Fairfax and Vienna, about 15 miles from Washington. Its homes have a median build year of 1983, so many laterals are now about 40 years old. Lines from that period are often PVC or ABS, which tend to fail at settled sections or loose joints, though older homes in the area may have earlier pipe.

Fairfax County Wastewater Management runs the public sewer for most of Oakton. County Code makes the owner responsible for the private lateral, and the County's 24-hour line for backups is 703-323-1211. The Town of Vienna's water and sewer system serves customers outside its town limits, so some Oakton homes near Vienna may be Vienna customers instead (Town customer service, 703-255-6385). Plumbing permits come from Fairfax County Land Development Services through PLUS.

Before the plumber arrives

• Check your bill to see whether Fairfax County or the Town of Vienna bills for sewer
• Find the outdoor or basement cleanout
• Note recurring problem fixtures and dates of past cleanings
• Clear vehicles and furniture from the likely route
• Ask your HOA about rules if you live in a townhouse community