Hydro Jetting in Suitland, MD

Why does my Suitland drain keep clogging after it's been snaked?

Suitland grew quickly after federal offices arrived during World War II, and its median home was built around 1973. Many houses still have their original drain lines, which can be cast iron inside the house and clay or iron out to the street. Over decades those pipes build up a crust of scale and grease that narrows the opening. A cable clears a path through it but leaves most of that crust on the wall, so the line slowly closes up again. Jetting removes the coating and sends it downstream, which is why it tends to buy more time between calls.

Is it safe to jet an old pipe?

Usually, if the pipe is still in one piece. A plumber will often put a camera down an older line first to check for cracks, offset joints or thin spots, then pick a nozzle and pressure to match. If the camera shows a collapsed section, jetting is the wrong tool: that section needs repair. In Prince George's County, sewer service line repairs and replacements have to be done by a plumber holding a WSSC Water license, under a WSSC permit, so the cleaning visit and any later repair often involve the same professional.

Who handles sewer problems in Suitland?

Suitland is an unincorporated community, and WSSC Water provides its water and sewer service. If a manhole in the street is overflowing, or neighbors are backing up at the same time you are, call WSSC Water's Emergency Services Center at 301-206-4002 first, because the blockage may be in the public sewer. If it's only your house, a plumber is the right call. Building permits for unincorporated Suitland come from Prince George's County DPIE, but plumbing permits and inspections go through WSSC.

Before the plumber arrives

Hold off on laundry, showers and the dishwasher. Clear a path to the basement or the spot where the main line leaves the house, and note whether the backup shows up first in a floor drain, a tub or a toilet. Townhouse owners should mention it if a neighbor's line seems to be acting up as well, since that helps the plumber narrow down where the blockage sits.