Sewer Line Repair in Chevy Chase, MD

Signs to watch for

• A basement toilet or floor drain backs up when upstairs fixtures drain
• Gurgling from drains after a toilet flush
• Root cutting needed again and again
• Sewer odor in an old basement with no obvious source
• Slow drains throughout the house rather than in one room

Local conditions in Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase grew in the 1890s as a streetcar suburb along Connecticut Avenue, developed by the Chevy Chase Land Company on the District line. Today it's a patchwork of small incorporated towns and villages plus an unincorporated area. In ZIP 20815 about two-thirds of homes predate 1980, and more than 2,600 were built in 1939 or earlier. Laterals from those decades were usually clay or cast iron. After this long underground, clay joints open up for roots and cast iron can corrode thin, crack or develop heavy scale.

WSSC Water owns the public mains and takes reports of street-level sewer overflows at 301-206-4002. Repairs to water or sewer service lines must be done by a plumber registered with WSSC under a WSSC permit (Permit Services 301-206-4003). In the Town of Chevy Chase, larger projects also need a Town permit, and the Town won't approve it until the county permit is issued, so check with your town or village office before a big excavation.

What affects the cost

• The age and material of the pipe, and whether more than one section is failing
• Mature trees, old stone walls, walks and driveways over the line
• Depth, and whether the damage extends under the basement floor
• Repair method: point repair, liner, pipe bursting or open trench
• WSSC permit plus any town or village approval
• Restoring landscaping and hardscape afterward

What happens when you call

You'll reach an independent plumber who does sewer work in Chevy Chase. They'll ask which fixtures are affected, how old the house is and whether you know where the line exits. The visit typically begins with clearing the line, then a camera inspection to find and measure the damage, and a quote based on what the video shows. Plumber Washington DC Pros only connects the call; the plumber sets the price with you.