Sewer Camera Inspection in Fort Washington, MD

WSSC Water provides sewer service in Fort Washington, and the line between your house and its main is yours to maintain. A sewer camera inspection shows the inside of that line so you can see roots, cracks, sags or heavy buildup and where they sit. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.

Fort Washington homes and their lines

Fort Washington stayed rural until about 1960 and has been filling in with suburban neighborhoods ever since, along with riverfront homes near the Potomac and Fort Washington Park. The median home was built around 1980, so a typical line has been in the ground for four decades or more. On bigger lots the sewer can run a long way from the house to the street, often past trees planted when the neighborhood was new. Roots and settling are common findings, along with sags on long runs.

What to do now

If a drain is backing up, stop using water in the house.
Check whether neighbors have the same trouble. If they do, or sewage is overflowing in the street, call WSSC Water at 301-206-4002.
Locate your cleanout, often a capped pipe near the foundation or in the basement.
Think back on any landscaping, fencing, pools or additions that went over the sewer route.
Have the line cleared if needed, then filmed so the cause is identified and located.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.

(202) 915-7612

Symptoms and likely causes

Symptom	What the camera often finds
Clogs every few months	Roots entering at joints under mature trees
Slow drains that never fully clear	A sag holding water and solids on a long run
Gurgling and bubbling toilets	A partial blockage farther down the line
Backup in the lowest drain only	A restriction in the building sewer, not one fixture
Sinking or soggy ground over the line	A broken or separated section of pipe

Cost factors

Cost depends on access (an outdoor cleanout is easiest, a toilet or roof vent takes longer), whether the line needs clearing first, how long the run is and whether defects are located from the surface and a recording saved. Longer runs on Fort Washington's larger lots take more cable and more time. If a repair follows, Prince George's County DPIE issues no plumbing permits; WSSC Water does, and a plumber holding a WSSC license must do the sewer service line work. Ask the plumber to walk you through the footage before you agree to any repair, and to show you where on the lot each defect sits.

Sewer Camera Inspection questions in Fort Washington

Can roots be seen on the camera?

Yes. Fine roots and thick root masses both show up clearly at joints, and they're a common cause of repeat clogs in Fort Washington yards with mature trees.

Can the plumber find the exact spot of a problem from the yard?

Usually. Many sewer cameras carry a small transmitter, so the plumber can trace the head from the surface and mark the spot and depth, which helps on long runs across a big lot.

Is it worth filming the sewer line before buying a house here?

Often, yes. A camera shows the condition of a long or older line before you buy, and the footage can support a repair request or price adjustment.

How long does the inspection take?

A simple inspection often takes about an hour. Long runs, clearing a full pipe first or entering through a toilet can add time.