• Virginia's Best

    Everyone likes to say they're the best. Frugal Rooter can prove it. The PHCC, America's oldest and largest home improvement trade association, has named us Virginia's Plumbing Contractor of the Year. So if an organization of 3500 plumbers says we're the best in VA, we're taking their word for it.

  • Dr's of Plumberology

    Calling our plumbers and technicians "doctors" isn't much of a stretch. When you do the math on all the hours of classroom & on-the-job training, they've had more schooling than most Ph.D's. That's how much experience we bring to your door. Knowledge that'll get your problem solved quickly saving you time and money.

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  • Emergency Service

    Plumbing emergencies aren’t like other emergencies. If you don’t get help fast, you can end up with $1000’s in damage to your home. That’s why 24 Hrs a Day, 365 Days a Year, Plumberologists are standing by, ready to help customers whenever and wherever in the Washington DC area they need us.

  • Care For Your Home

    No one takes better care of the plumbing and drains in your home. Our Plumberologists have decades of knowledge and experience diagnosing and repairing the plumbing issues faced by every home owner. Not only will we fix what's wrong, we'll give you the knowledge and tools to prevent future problems, saving you time and money.

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  • Low-2-No Financing

    Life doesn't always happen on your schedule. Big emergencies always seem to come when you're least ready. That's why we offer special financing programs to those who qualify. You can get approved in minutes for the funds you need today. With flexible payment options, you can choose a plan that works for you.

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  • Join Our Team

    We are the best plumbing company in Virginia, Maryland & DC. We're looking for the best plumbers to deliver our signature outstanding quality service to our residential & commercial customers. Think you have what it takes? Visit our jobs page and apply today. If you've got the drive, we'll show you the way.

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  • QSC / PHCC

    As part of our committment to be the very best plumbers in the DC region, Frugal Rooter is a proud member of the Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors association, and an active participant in their Quality Service Contractors program of education and fellowship. We put the knowledge and resources we gain to work for our customers.

  • We Proudly Served

    Veteran owned and operated, we offer special discounts to our brothers and sisters in arms. Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard or Marine... we'll take of all your plumbing and drain needs. Done with your service? Searching for your next career? We're looking to hire veterans, either as apprentices or service techs. Visit our career page to apply.

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Orangeburg Pipes: A big problem in Northern Virginia's older cities.

Asphalt Impregnated Cardboard:

Orangeburg pipe is bituminous fiber pipe made from layers of wood pulp and pitch pressed together. Basically it’s made out of pressed layers of tar paper. Many contractors refer to it as a “toilet paper tube”.

History Of Orangeburg:

Orangeburg pipe, as commonly referred to, comes from the Orangeburg Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Orangeburg, New York. The company began mass producing and installing the pipe around the early 1850’s.

Once PVC pipe became popular in the early 1970’s the Orangeburg pipe business began to go downhill. The company would eventually shut down altogether in fall of 1972 and the pipe has been removed from the list of acceptable building materials under most building codes.

Plus Side to Orangeburg:

This asphalt impregnated cardboard was a cheaper more sensible option for pipe during the Second World War, when cast iron was taxed heavily on because of its importance to the war. Other than that temporary financial relief years ago Orangeburg pipe has no redeeming qualities.

A Pure Plumbing Disaster:

Orangeburg pipe is lightweight and brittle. This makes the pipe quick to deform under pressure and allow tree roots to break and corrode the pipes. Orangeburg pipe only has a life expectancy of 50 years, so majority of what is still being used today is well overdue, which means corrosion due to age and overuse.

Other Options:

When an Orangeburg pipe breaks repair is challenging. Most sewer line repairs use a “snake", a plumbing tool used to see into pipes and clear obstacles. With Orangeburg pipe the pipe becomes so deformed it’s often pressed to the shape of an oval, instead of a circle, and impossible to clear. The most effective and recommended way to fix the problem of Orangeburg pipe is to remove and replace it. Attempting to snake it out or repair it usually end in worse damage by breaking the pipe.


*Orangeburg pipe is prone to fail and should be replaced immediately. If you or someone you know has an Orangeburg piping system, we strongly recommend looking into getting it replaced with a more stable form of plumbing pipe. Contact Frugal Rooter to see what we can do for your home today!