Chevy Chase has some of the oldest housing in Montgomery County, so a main line clog there often involves original cast iron or clay pipe, mature tree roots, or both. A plumber clears the line and tells you whether the pipe is part of the problem. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Chevy Chase.
Warning signs
- The basement floor drain fills when the washer empties
- A toilet gurgles while a tub or sink is draining
- Upstairs showers drain slowly even after the hair is pulled out
- The same main line clog returns every year or two
- A musty sewer smell in the basement
A clog in one sink is usually local. Basement drains rising, or several fixtures slowing together, means the main drain or building sewer.
Chevy Chase homes and their pipes
Chevy Chase grew as an 1890s streetcar suburb along Connecticut Avenue on the District line, about 7 miles from downtown Washington, developed with single-family homes on tree-lined streets. In ZIP 20815, about two-thirds of homes were built before 1980, and more than 2,600 date from 1939 or earlier. Homes of that age commonly have cast iron drains and clay or cast iron building sewers. Cast iron scales and roughens inside; clay comes in short sections whose joints invite roots, and the area's mature trees supply plenty of them.
WSSC Water provides the public sewer. For problems on the public side, its Emergency Service Center is 301-206-4002. Clearing a blockage needs no permit. Repairing or replacing a sewer service line needs a WSSC Water permit and a plumber holding a WSSC license, and in the Town of Chevy Chase larger projects also need a Town permit, which the Town issues only after the County permit.
What drives the cost
- Where the clog is. Fixture traps are quick; a building sewer clogged under the front yard is not.
- Pipe condition. Old cast iron may need descaling or jetting rather than a basic cable.
- Roots. Cutting roots and checking the line with a camera add time.
- Access. Older basements may have cleanouts that are rusted shut or hidden behind later finishes.
- The hour. After-hours visits usually cost more.
What happens when you call
You are connected with an independent plumber who works in Chevy Chase. Describe which drains are affected and whether the basement has taken water, and mention past root problems if you know of any. Clear a path to the cleanout, and hold off on laundry and showers until the line is open again.
Drain Cleaning questions in Chevy Chase
Are cast iron and clay drains in older houses harder to clean?
Is a camera inspection worth it after a main line backup?
Does clearing a drain need a permit?
Where would the cleanout be in a house with a basement?
More plumbing services in Chevy Chase
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