Sewer line
Drains and sewer lines
Slow or blocked sinks, tubs and toilets, a main drain that keeps backing up, and damaged sewer lines between your house and the street.
A drain that gurgles, drains slowly, or backs up into a tub or floor drain is telling you something is partly blocked or damaged further down the line. One slow sink is usually a local clog. If several fixtures slow down at once, or water comes up in the lowest drain in the house when you run the washer, the problem is probably in the main drain or the sewer line that leaves the house.
Other signs of a sewer line problem: a sewage smell in the basement or yard, a patch of lawn that stays wet or unusually green, soil settling along the line, and drain trouble that returns a few weeks after it was cleared. In older neighborhoods, tree roots are a common reason. Roots find the small joints in an old clay or cast iron pipe and keep growing into them.
What we do. We start by finding where the problem is, because the fix depends on it. A clog in a fixture drain or the main line is cleared with a drain cable (snake). If a clog keeps coming back, or the pipe is cracked, offset, or collapsed, clearing it again only buys time, so we explain what we found and what repair the line needs. Repairs can be a section of pipe or a longer run, inside the house or in the yard. We tell you what we recommend and why before any digging starts.
What affects the cost. Whether the problem is a simple clog or damaged pipe is the biggest factor. After that: how deep and how long the line is, how easy it is to reach, what has to be dug up or restored (lawn, driveway, patio, basement floor), whether a permit and inspection are required, and whether the damaged part is yours or the utility's. We give you a written quote after seeing the problem, not a guess over the phone.
Who owns what. The sewer pipe from your house to the property line is normally the homeowner's. The main under the street belongs to the water and sewer utility (DC Water, WSSC Water, and others). If the problem turns out to be in the utility's part, we will tell you so you can call them instead of paying for it.
Questions we hear
How do I know if the clog is in my sink or in the main line?
If only one fixture is slow, the clog is probably in that fixture's own drain. If several fixtures are slow, or water backs up in the lowest drain in the house when you use the washer or flush a toilet, the main drain or sewer line is the more likely cause.
Is it safe to use chemical drain cleaner?
We suggest you avoid it. Chemical cleaners rarely clear a main-line problem, they can sit in the pipe and make the work more hazardous, and they can damage older pipes. A plunger or a hand drain tool is a safer first step for a single fixture.
Why does my drain clog again a few weeks after it was cleared?
A repeat clog usually means the pipe itself has a problem, such as roots in a joint, a belly that holds water, or a crack. Clearing the blockage treats the symptom. Ask for an explanation of what was found in the pipe, not just that it was cleared.
Does the city fix a sewer backup?
The utility is responsible for the main under the street. The pipe from your house to the property line is generally the homeowner's. If many neighbors have a backup at once, call your utility first.
What should I not put down my drains?
Cooking fats and oils, coffee grounds, and wipes of any kind, including ones sold as flushable. They collect inside the pipe and form blockages, especially in older lines.
Where we do this work
We serve homes across DC, Maryland and Virginia. Find your city for local notes on your water utility and rebates.
Water on the floor, or a question first?
Call and we will tell you what is likely going on. Or send the details and we will call you back.
Emergency calls answered 24/7.