Sewer Line Replacement in Bladensburg, MD

What to expect when you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent local plumber who serves Bladensburg. Expect a camera inspection first, run from the cleanout, so you both can see the pipe's material, condition and depth. A locate marks the route on the ground. The plumber can then explain whether the old pipe can be lined or burst, or whether it needs to be dug out, and how the WSSC permit and inspection fit the schedule.

Ask for a copy of the video and a sketch of the route. They help if you sell the house later, and they show where the cleanout and any new fittings sit. If a trench is needed, ask how the soil will be compacted so the walk or lawn does not sink later.

What affects the price

• Length and depth of the lateral
• Trenchless methods versus excavation
• Front steps, walks and driveways over the line
• Drain pipe under the basement floor that also needs work
• WSSC permit and inspection requirements

Local conditions

Bladensburg is one of the oldest towns in the county, incorporated in 1854 on the Anacostia River and known for the 1814 Battle of Bladensburg. Today it sits at a busy crossroads of Baltimore Avenue, Kenilworth Avenue and Annapolis Road. Census estimates put the median home at 1968, so much of the housing has the drain lines it was built with. Clay laterals let roots in at the joints, and cast iron corrodes until it cracks.

WSSC Water provides water and sewer service in town. Its emergency line, 301-206-4002, handles trouble in the public system. The Town of Bladensburg does not issue building or plumbing permits; WSSC Water issues plumbing permits and inspects the work, and Prince George's County DPIE handles building permits. WSSC requires the work to be done by a plumber holding a WSSC license.

Quick checklist

• Stop using water if drains are backing up
• Clear access to the cleanout and basement
• Note past clearings and what was found
• Move cars off a driveway that crosses the line
• Keep children and pets away from any sewage on the floor
• Point out buried lighting, irrigation or fencing in the yard

If you rent, let the owner know right away, since the private sewer line is usually the property owner's to replace and they will want to approve the work and the permit.