Sewer Line Repair in Sterling, VA

Signs of a lateral problem

• Wastewater coming up in a lower-level shower or floor drain
• A toilet that bubbles when the bathtub or washer drains
• More than one drain running slow at the same time
• A sewage odor in the yard or along the foundation
• The need to have the main line snaked every few months

One clogged sink is usually a local problem. When the lowest drains in the house back up, or several fixtures act up together, the shared line out to the street is the place to look.

Sterling's housing and sewer

Sterling is an established suburb beside Dulles International Airport, about 23 miles from Washington. It began with the Sterling Park development on former farmland in the early 1960s, and growth continued through the 1970s and 1980s. In ZIP 20164, roughly 43% of homes were built before 1980. That's a meaningful share of laterals that are now several decades old, and lines from that period can be clay or cast iron, with joints that open up and admit roots. Newer sections of Sterling mostly have plastic pipe, which tends to fail through settled backfill or damage from later projects rather than corrosion.

Sterling is unincorporated, and Loudoun Water serves county residents outside the incorporated towns within its service areas. If sewage is coming from a manhole or several neighbors are affected, contact Loudoun Water; its after-hours emergency line is 571-291-7878 and Customer Relations is 571-291-7880. If only your home is affected, call a plumber. Plumbing permits come from Loudoun County Building and Development, filed as part of a parent building permit through LandMARC.

What affects the cost

• Pipe material and the number of damaged joints
• Depth and the distance from the house to the defect
• Mature trees, sheds, patios or driveways along the route
• Whether a cured-in-place liner fits or new pipe is needed
• Adding a cleanout if the house doesn't have a usable one
• Loudoun County permit requirements

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Sterling. Describe which drains are affected and how long it's been happening. The plumber will typically clear the line first, then inspect it with a camera to identify the cause and locate it from the surface. That inspection is what separates a quick fix from a bigger repair, so ask to see the footage before you decide.