Most Derwood homes were built in the 1980s, and their drain lines usually clog from grease, wipes and soap film rather than worn-out pipe. Hydro jetting cleans that buildup off the pipe wall with high-pressure water when a drain cable keeps coming up short. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Derwood.
About Derwood's drain lines
Derwood is a suburban community just north of Rockville and southeast of Gaithersburg, near the Shady Grove Metro and the Intercounty Connector. About two-thirds of its homes were built in the 1980s, and the median year built is 1985, so plastic drain pipe is the norm. WSSC Water provides public water and sewer here, and most WSSC sewage from Montgomery County ends up at DC Water's Blue Plains plant for treatment. Montgomery County assigns every property a water and sewer category, so a check of your bill confirms service at your address.
A small share of Derwood's homes are much older, about 5% built in 1939 or earlier, and those can have iron or clay pipe underground that deserves a camera look before jetting. In the newer subdivisions, roots are less common than grease, but trees planted when the neighborhoods were built have now had decades to grow, and a lateral near a large tree can still pick up root intrusion at a loose joint.
What to do now
- Stop running water so the backup doesn't spread.
- Check which drains are affected. If the basement floor drain or lowest tub is holding water, the main line is involved.
- Ask neighbors whether they have the same trouble. If they do, call WSSC Water's emergency service center at 301-206-4002.
- Find the cleanout if you can and clear space around it.
- Call a plumber and describe what backed up and when, and whether the line has been cleared before.
Signs and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Kitchen sink slows again soon after clearing | Grease coating the kitchen line |
| Toilet gurgles when the washer drains | Partial blockage in the main line |
| Floor drain water after showers | Restriction downstream of the floor drain |
| Repeated clogs at the same toilet | Wipes or paper catching on buildup in the line |
Cost factors
- Cleanout access, including finished basements and townhouse layouts
- The distance to the public sewer connection
- What the clog is made of
- Camera work to diagnose the cause
- After-hours or weekend timing
If the camera shows a damaged sewer service line, WSSC Water requires the repair to be done by a plumber registered with WSSC under a WSSC permit.
Hydro Jetting questions in Derwood
Does a newer house with plastic drain pipe ever need jetting?
Why do the basement floor drain and a toilet back up at the same time?
What happens if the camera finds a broken pipe after jetting?
What affects the price of a jetting job?
More plumbing services in Derwood
Hydro Jetting nearby
Sources
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