Inside City of Fairfax limits, the City's Department of Public Works runs the sanitary sewer; unincorporated Fairfax-addressed areas are on Fairfax County sewer. In both, the lateral from the house belongs to the owner, and a sewer camera inspection films it to find roots, cracks, sags or buildup. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairfax.
A quick look at Fairfax
The City of Fairfax is a small independent city and the Fairfax County seat, with a redeveloped Old Town core, George Mason University just to the south, and Fairfax Boulevard and Main Street running through. Most of the 22030-22033 ZIP codes outside city limits are unincorporated Fairfax County. The median home was built in 1967, so many laterals here are original clay or cast iron, the kind that show root intrusion at joints and scale inside the pipe on camera.
What to do now
- Stop running water. Pause laundry and dishwashing and avoid flushing if a low drain is backing up.
- Figure out whose sewer you are on. City customers can call City wastewater services at 703-385-7810, or 703-385-7924 after hours and in emergencies. County customers call Fairfax County's 24-hour line, 703-323-1211.
- Let the utility check its main. If the public sewer is flowing, the blockage is on your side.
- Find the cleanout. Look near the foundation or in the basement, but leave the cap on if the line is full.
- Book the camera. Have the line cleared, filmed to the public connection and any defect marked from above.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Clogs return every season | Roots in clay joints regrowing after cleaning |
| Floor drain backs up during laundry | Restriction in the building drain or lateral |
| Slow drains throughout the house | Scale narrowing old cast iron |
| Same clog at the same spot | An offset joint or a sag holding waste |
| Sewer smell outside | A cracked pipe or a damaged cleanout cap |
Cost factors
- Cleanout access, or entry through a toilet or roof vent
- Clearing roots or debris before the camera can pass
- Length and depth of the lateral
- Locating and marking defects and saving the video
- Older houses with additions or patios built over the line
Repair permits follow the same city-county split. Inside the city, plumbing permit applications go to Code Administration on Armstrong Street (703-385-7830). For unincorporated Fairfax addresses, Fairfax County Land Development Services issues permits through PLUS. When you call, you are connected with an independent plumber who works in the Fairfax area.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions in Fairfax
My mailing address uses the town's name, but I'm outside its limits. Who runs my sewer?
When sewage backs up, should I call the sewer utility or a plumber first?
Will tree roots show up on the camera?
Can the footage help me decide on a sewer backflow preventer?
More plumbing services in Fairfax
Sewer Camera Inspection nearby
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