Hydro jetting clears a Springfield main drain or sewer lateral with high-pressure water, cutting back roots and stripping the scale and grease that narrow older pipe. It's the usual fix when a line keeps closing up after snaking. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Springfield.
What to expect when you call
You'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Springfield. Have a few details ready: which drains are affected, whether the lowest level backs up, and whether the line has been cleared before. On site, the plumber opens the cleanout and usually runs a camera to see what the blockage is and how the pipe looks. For lines lined with scale or invaded by roots, jetting is the step that brings the pipe back to full size.
Cost factors
- Access: exterior cleanout, basement cleanout or a pulled toilet
- How far the lateral runs to the County sewer
- How dense the roots or scale are
- Camera inspection before or after
- Off-hours visits
Springfield conditions
Springfield went from about 1,000 residents in 1950 to more than 25,000 by 1970, so much of its housing comes from the post-war building boom; the median home dates to around 1974. Houses from that era often have cast iron inside and laterals that have had half a century for trees to find. Cast iron builds rough scale that snags grease and paper, and roots exploit tired joints. Jetting addresses both, though old iron needs a gentler touch.
Springfield is unincorporated, so Fairfax County runs the public sewer. In Fairfax County the owner maintains the private sewer lateral from the house all the way to the County sewer, including the connection. If sewage backs up with no fixtures in use, call the County's 24-hour line at 703-323-1211 first. Repairs found by a camera are permitted through Fairfax County Land Development Services.
Checklist before the plumber arrives
- Stop laundry and dishwasher cycles
- Call the County if sewage rises with nothing running
- Move belongings away from basement floor drains
- Find the cleanout if you can
- Write down past cleaning dates and what came out
If your Springfield house has a finished basement added long after the original plumbing went in, a backup there can damage carpet, drywall and stored belongings quickly. If yours has a history of slow lower-level drains, cleaning the main line before the summer storm season and keeping the camera video on file costs far less than the cleanup after a backup.
Hydro Jetting questions in Springfield
Can a jetter damage an old cast iron or clay sewer pipe?
Where does my private sewer line end and the utility's begin?
Do tree roots come back after a line is jetted?
Why do the basement floor drain and the toilets back up together?
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