In Great Falls, many homes are not on municipal sewer and use private onsite wastewater systems, while some neighborhoods connect to the Fairfax County sewer. Sewer line replacement applies to the private lateral on public-sewer properties, and a plumber can also replace the building drain line on homes with an onsite system. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Great Falls.
What happens when you call
You will be connected with an independent plumber who works in Great Falls. Start by telling the plumber whether your home is on County sewer or a private onsite wastewater system, because that changes the job. On public sewer, the plumber clears and films the lateral to the County main and recommends repair or replacement. On a private system, the plumber looks at the drain line from the house toward the system, while the system itself is serviced by a provider who specializes in it.
What affects the cost
- Long runs on large lots, sometimes under long driveways
- Depth of the line and the soil and rock along the route
- Whether the pipe can be replaced trenchless or must be dug
- Stone walls, mature trees, gardens and paved courts over the route
- Fairfax County permit and inspection
Great Falls conditions
Great Falls is mainly a residential community on the Potomac's right bank about 16 miles from Washington, with large lots, a partly rural landscape and Great Falls Park nearby. The median home dates to 1985. Many homes here rely on private wells and many are not on public sewer, so onsite systems need routine pumping and inspection. Some neighborhoods are on Fairfax Water and Fairfax County sewer. Where public sewer exists, the owner maintains the private lateral, and the County's 24-hour line for backups is 703-323-1211.
Because Great Falls is unincorporated, Fairfax County Land Development Services issues plumbing permits through PLUS. A replacement is a fit when the line has damage along much of its length; a single bad joint can usually be repaired on its own. On homes with an onsite system, the plumber and the system's service provider should agree on where one job ends and the other begins, so the new drain pipe ties in cleanly and nothing is left uncovered by either.
Before the plumber comes
- Check whether your bill includes a County sewer charge
- If you have an onsite system, gather its maintenance records and a site plan
- Find the cleanout near the house
- Note which fixtures are slow or backing up
- Mark irrigation lines, invisible fences and other buried items you know about
Sewer Line Replacement questions in Great Falls
My home isn't on municipal sewer. Does sewer line replacement still apply?
How do I find out which utility handles sewer at my address?
What affects the cost of replacing a sewer line?
Do buried utility lines have to be marked before the yard is dug?
More plumbing services in Great Falls
Sewer Line Replacement nearby
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