College Park homes are on WSSC Water's public sewer, and the drain pipes inside the house are the owner's responsibility. In older neighborhoods such as Calvert Hills and Old Town, cast iron and clay lines make main line clogs more likely. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in College Park.
College Park mixes early 20th-century neighborhoods like Calvert Hills and Old Town with newer apartments and mixed-use buildings near the University of Maryland. The median home in the city was built in 1979, so drain systems range from century-old cast iron to modern PVC. Rental houses with several occupants also tend to put more hair, grease and wipes down the drains than a typical family home.
What to do right now
- Stop using water in the house if more than one fixture is backing up. Every flush adds to the problem.
- Check the basement floor drain and lowest tub. If sewage is coming up there, keep people and pets away from it.
- Look outside for the cleanout cap near the foundation. Do not open it if it is under pressure or wet.
- If sewage is spilling from a manhole or the street, call WSSC Water's emergency line at 301-206-4002.
- Skip chemical openers. They seldom reach a main line clog and they make the work harder for the plumber.
- Note which fixtures failed and in what order; it helps pinpoint the blockage.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| One bathroom sink is slow | Hair and soap in the trap or pop-up stopper |
| Kitchen sink backs up after the dishwasher runs | Grease and food solids in the kitchen branch line |
| Toilet gurgles when the washer drains | Partial blockage in the main building drain |
| Water at the basement floor drain | Main line clog or roots between the house and the street |
| Drains slow after heavy rain | Restricted sewer line or stormwater reaching a low area |
Parts of College Park sit along Paint Branch and Indian Creek, and the Lakeland area is historically low-lying and flood-prone. In those homes, water at a basement drain after a storm can be groundwater or surface water rather than a sewer clog, and a plumber may suggest a camera look to sort out which it is.
Cost factors
- Location of the clog and length of line to clear
- Whether the home has a usable cleanout
- Pipe material: old cast iron and clay often need cutting heads or jetting
- Adding a camera inspection to check for breaks or roots
- After-hours or weekend timing
Replacing a damaged sewer service line is a WSSC-permitted job that must be done by a plumber registered with WSSC Water.
Drain Cleaning questions in College Park
Why does the basement floor drain back up during heavy summer storms?
Are old cast iron and clay drain pipes harder to clean?
Are wipes sold as flushable safe for the sewer line?
Sewage is coming out of a manhole or up in the street. Who do I call?
More plumbing services in College Park
Drain Cleaning nearby
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