Plumbing questions, answered

In older parts of DC, sewage and rainwater share the same pipes, so a heavy storm can push water back up through the lowest drain in the house. A backwater valve on the sewer line lets water out and stops it coming back in. We can tell you whether your home is a good candidate after a camera inspection.

We recommend it. A recorded camera run shows whether the problem is roots, a crack, a sag or a collapsed section, and exactly where it is. That decides whether jetting, a liner or a spot repair is the right fix.

Often, yes. Trenchless lining or pipe bursting can replace or seal a damaged lateral through one or two small access points. It depends on the condition of the pipe, which the camera inspection shows.

For sound cast-iron and PVC lines, yes. On very old or broken clay pipe we camera the line first and adjust the pressure, or recommend a repair instead of jetting.

Look where the water line enters the basement before the meter. Lead pipe is dull grey, soft enough to scratch to a shiny silver with a key, and does not attract a magnet. DC Water also publishes service line records. We can check it on a visit.

In DC the line is split at the property line: the public side belongs to DC Water and the private side to the owner. Programmes such as Lead Free DC can cover replacement, and we can replace the private side and coordinate timing.

Leave the building, do not switch lights or appliances on or off, and call Washington Gas's emergency line from outside. Once the utility has made it safe, we repair or replace the leaking line and pressure-test it.

Tankless units save space and never run out of hot water, but need the right gas line and venting. Tank heaters are simpler to install in most rowhouse basements. We look at your gas supply, venting and hot water use before recommending one.

Washington, DC, plus Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and much of Fairfax County in Virginia, and Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Rockville, Hyattsville and College Park in Maryland.

Each jurisdiction issues its own plumbing licences, and work has to be done under the licence for the place it happens. Ask any plumber to show the licence that applies to your address, along with proof of insurance, before work starts.

We do. In DC that is the Department of Buildings, in Montgomery and Prince George's counties it is WSSC Water, and in Virginia it is the county or city where the property is.

Yes. Call (614) 647-0786 any time. Backed-up sewers, burst pipes and gas problems are dispatched around the clock.