Sewer Line Repair in Riverdale, MD

Signs your sewer line needs attention

• Dirty water appears in the basement drain or a ground-floor shower
• The toilet gurgles while the washer is draining
• Every fixture in the house is slow, not just one
• A plunged toilet clogs again a few days later
• An odor of sewage near the cleanout or front walk

One troublesome fixture usually has a local clog. Trouble throughout the house points to the building sewer.

Riverdale's housing and sewer

The Riverdale post office name still covers the Town of Riverdale Park, which was incorporated in 1920 as Riverdale and renamed in 1998, plus surrounding unincorporated Prince George's County. Riverdale Park began as a streetcar suburb along US 1 just south of College Park, and its median home was built around 1957. Sewer laterals from that era are typically cast iron or clay, and decades of roots, ground movement and scale take a toll. Older homes with basements usually show the first signs of a backup at the floor drain.

WSSC Water provides water and sewer service across the area and takes sewer emergencies at its Emergency Service Center, 301-206-4002. If a manhole is overflowing or the whole street is affected, call there first. If only your house is backing up, the problem is in the private line. Plumbing permits come from WSSC, which requires sewer service line repairs and replacements to be done by a plumber holding its license. Building permits are a Prince George's County matter.

What changes the price

• Clay versus cast iron versus newer plastic
• How deep the lateral is and how long the damaged section is
• Porches, front steps, walkways or trees along the route
• Whether the pipe can be lined or must be dug and replaced
• The WSSC Water permit and inspection

Once you call

An independent local plumber who covers Riverdale will ask where the water is showing up, how old the house is and whether the line has been cleaned before. On site, the plumber typically clears the blockage, runs a camera down the lateral, marks the damage location and depth, and explains the choices. In the meantime, keep water use to a minimum and keep people away from any sewage.