4 services · Washington
Drains & sewer in Washington, DC
A single slow sink is usually a local clog a plumber can clear in one visit. Several drains backing up at once, gurgling toilets or water at a basement floor drain point to the main sewer line, which may need cleaning, a camera inspection and sometimes repair.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Drains & sewer services in Washington
Drain cleaning in Washington
UrgentIf one fixture is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's branch line. If several drains back up at once, or the basement floor drain fills when you run the washer, the main sewer line is blocked and needs a larger cable or a jetter.
Hydro jetting
Hydro jetting cleans the full width of a drain pipe with high-pressure water, washing out grease, scale and fine roots that a cable only punches a hole through. It works best on sound pipe and is usually done after a camera inspection confirms the pipe can take it.
Sewer camera inspection
A sewer camera inspection runs a waterproof camera through the line from your house to the city main and records what it finds: roots, cracks, sags, offset joints or collapsed pipe. It's the best way to decide between cleaning, spot repair and replacement.
Sewer line repair in Washington
UrgentA damaged sewer line can be fixed with a spot repair, a trenchless liner, pipe bursting or an open-trench replacement. Which one fits depends on what the camera shows, how deep the pipe is, and what's on top of it, such as a driveway, trees or landscaping.
Local conditions
Drains & sewer in Washington: what's different
D.C. rowhouses in Capitol Hill, Petworth and Columbia Heights have long drain runs and old cast iron, and older parts of the city have combined sewers. DC Water's Clean Rivers tunnels reduce overflows, but rowhouses can still see basement backups during heavy storms.
Many renovated rowhouses have basement bathrooms below the sewer line that rely on ejector pumps. A failed pump or a clogged lateral shows up in the basement first. Permits come from the D.C. Department of Buildings.
- Water and sewer in Washington
- DC Water provides water and sewer service across the District.
- Permits in Washington
- Plumbing permits are issued by the D.C. Department of Buildings.
Washington housing and plumbing
Rowhouses from the late 1800s and early 1900s in Capitol Hill, Petworth and Columbia Heights often have basements, cast-iron drains and old service lines.
Other Washington conditions that affect plumbing
- Combined sewer backups: Older parts of the city have combined sewers that can back up during heavy storms.
- Lead service lines: DC Water has a program to replace lead service lines.
- Rowhouse drains: Shared-wall rowhouses have long drain runs and old cast iron.
- Clean Rivers project: DC Water's Clean Rivers tunnels reduce combined sewer overflows, but older rowhouses can still see basement backups in heavy storms.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Washington and District of Columbia, including Capitol Hill, Petworth, Georgetown, Brookland, Columbia Heights, Navy Yard. ZIP codes: 20001 · 20002 · 20003 · 20004 · 20005 · 20006.
When to call a plumber in Washington
- Water backing up in the tub or shower when a toilet flushes
- Several fixtures draining slowly at the same time
- Water or sewage at a basement floor drain
- Gurgling from drains or toilets
- Sewer smell inside or a soggy patch in the yard
- The same clog returning within weeks of being cleared
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the drains & sewer guide.
Drains & sewer questions in Washington
Why does my D.C. rowhouse basement back up during storms?
Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?
More plumbing in Washington
Need help with drains & sewer in Washington?
Tell us what's going on and your ZIP code. You'll be connected with a licensed plumber who serves your area.
Call now to check plumber availability