Sewer Line Replacement in Damascus, MD

Signs the line may be finished

• Main line backups keep coming back after each clearing
• The lowest shower or floor drain fills when the washing machine empties
• Toilets gurgle or bubble when other fixtures drain
• A sewer smell near the cleanout or along the line's route
• A camera shows roots, cracks or offset joints at several spots

Damascus conditions

Damascus is a historically rural town in upper Montgomery County where MD 27, MD 108 and MD 124 meet, ringed by family farms and equestrian properties. WSSC Water runs a small wastewater plant right in town, the Damascus Water Resource Recovery Facility, which discharges to Magruder Branch. Montgomery County assigns each property a water and sewer category, and homes outside the sewer categories use private onsite wastewater systems maintained by the owner.

The housing stock is older than most of upcounty Montgomery. About 35 percent of homes were built before 1980, and another 37 percent went up in the 1980s. Lines from the 1970s and earlier can be cast iron or clay; 1980s lines are more often plastic but can still sag or separate. Where older farmhouses were tied into public sewer long after they were built, the line can be a patchwork of materials, and the joints between them are common weak points.

What drives the cost

• Distance from the house to the public connection; rural-style lots can mean longer runs
• Depth, slope and rock or hard ground along the route
• Trenchless replacement versus open excavation
• Restoring lawns, driveways, fencing or paddock areas
• WSSC permit and inspection; Montgomery County permits if other construction is involved

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who takes sewer work in Damascus. Plumber Washington DC Pros doesn't do the work; it connects you. The plumber will usually start with a camera inspection, locate and mark the line, and explain whether the damage is limited or spread out. If replacement makes sense, the plumber, who must be registered with WSSC Water, pulls the WSSC permit and schedules the inspection before backfill. Ask for the video and a sketch of the route so you know where the new pipe runs.