Fort Washington is served by WSSC Water for water and sewer, and the drain lines inside the house are the owner's to keep clear. Many homes here date from the suburban growth that began around 1960, so main line clogs and root intrusion are common calls. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.
Fort Washington was mostly rural until about 1960 and is now a suburban stretch of the Potomac shore, from Tantallon and Fort Washington Forest to riverfront homes near Fort Washington Park. The median home was built in 1980, but many neighborhoods are older than that, with large lots and mature trees. Long sewer laterals on big lots and established tree roots are two reasons main line calls are common here.
What to do now
- Stop running the dishwasher, washer and showers if more than one drain is affected.
- Check the lowest drain in the house, usually a basement floor drain or shower, for rising water.
- Find the exterior cleanout near the foundation if the house has one, and keep it clear for the plumber.
- If sewage is overflowing from a public manhole or the street, call WSSC Water at 301-206-4002.
- Use a plunger only on a single clogged fixture; do not pour chemicals into a backed-up drain.
- Keep children and pets away from any sewage and ventilate the area.
Signs and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Tub drains slowly, other fixtures fine | Hair and soap buildup in the tub drain |
| Toilet bubbles when a sink drains | Partial clog or venting problem in the main line |
| Floor drain backs up during laundry | Main building drain restricted by grease, lint or roots |
| Wet ground or sewage smell in the yard | Cracked or root-damaged sewer lateral |
| Backups return within weeks | Roots, a sag in the line or pipe damage |
Cost factors
- Length of line to clear, which can be longer on large Fort Washington lots
- Whether a cleanout is available or access has to be made through a fixture
- Root cutting, hydro jetting and a camera inspection, which are often priced separately
- Repairs if the camera finds a broken or collapsed section
- Night, weekend or holiday timing
If a sewer line needs repair, Prince George's County sends all plumbing permits through WSSC Water, and the work must be done by a plumber registered with WSSC Water. WSSC also adds orthophosphate to its water to coat pipe interiors, which helps protect supply piping but does nothing for drain clogs.
Drain Cleaning questions in Fort Washington
Can tree roots get into the drain line from my house?
Should the sewer line be filmed after a main line backup?
Why does the basement floor drain back up during heavy summer storms?
Who is responsible for the sewer pipe between my house and the main?
More plumbing services in Fort Washington
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