How you know the sewer line needs cleaning
A single slow sink is usually a local clog. When several fixtures drain slowly together, or the lowest drain in the house backs up, the main sewer line is partly blocked.
Other clues include gurgling in a toilet when the washer runs, a sewage smell near the cleanout and wet soil along the pipe path. Treat sewage on the floor as an urgent problem and call a plumber right away.
Cleaning methods compared
Each method has a job it does best.
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cable machine | A spinning cable breaks through the blockage | Paper, soft clogs, some roots |
| Cutter head | A blade on the cable cuts roots | Root masses in clay pipe |
| Hydro jetter | High-pressure water scours the pipe wall | Grease, scale, fine roots |
| Camera inspection | A camera records the pipe | Finding the cause and damage |
Why DIY machines can backfire
A rented drum machine is strong enough to snag a joint or tear an old clay pipe. If the blade catches and the cable twists, you may end up with a broken line and a repair bill larger than the cleaning would have been.
Professional cleaning starts at the cleanout, uses the right head for the pipe material and ends with a flow test. When a line is damaged, the plumber knows to stop and look with a camera.
How often to clean a sewer line
There is no universal schedule. A line without root intrusion or a belly can run for years without trouble. A line with roots may need cleaning every year or two.
If you have cleaned the same line twice in a year, the better step is a camera inspection. The video shows whether roots, an offset joint or a sag is the cause, and a sewer line repair may cost less than another round of cleaning.
What Barberton's sewer system means for your lateral
The City of Barberton's own stormwater information describes combined, sanitary and storm sewers in the system. Combined sewers carry sewage and storm water in one pipe, so a heavy rain can load the system.
June 2019 brought flooding to the city after heavy rain, and a partly blocked lateral on your property makes backup into a low basement more likely when the main is under strain. Ask the city utilities office which part of the line is yours and which belongs to the city before you pay for work near the street.
Source: City of Barberton stormwater information and city press coverage of the 2019 flooding.
What to do if sewage backs up
Stop using water, keep out of the wet area and call a plumber. Do not run a rented machine through a line that is already overflowing.
Cleanup of sewage-contaminated materials is a job for a restoration company, and we can point you to the next step after the line is clear. Our sewer line cleaning service is available around the clock.
What a professional cleaning visit looks like
Knowing the sequence helps you prepare and judge the work.
- 1
Locate the cleanout
The plumber finds the cleanout and clears the area around it.
- 2
Open the line
A cable or jetter clears the blockage while the plumber watches the flow.
- 3
Flush and test
Water runs through the line to prove it drains freely.
- 4
Camera if needed
A camera pass shows whether roots, offsets or sags caused the blockage.
Signs that cleaning will not be enough
Cleaning treats a blockage but not a defect. If the cable keeps hitting a hard stop at the same distance, a pipe may be collapsed or offset. If roots grow back within months, a joint is open.
A line with a belly, a low spot that holds water, will collect solids again and again. In those cases a sewer inspection and a repair are the only lasting answer.
How to prepare for the visit
Locate the cleanout, which is usually a capped pipe near the foundation or in the basement floor. Clear a path to it, move stored items and keep pets away.
Tell the plumber about past backups, the age of the house and any work done on the line. That history shortens the diagnosis.
Warning signs between cleanings
Between professional visits, watch for the small signals. A toilet that bubbles after the washer drains, a basement floor drain that smells after rain and a shower that drains slower on laundry day all say the main is narrowing.
Keep notes with dates. A pattern, such as trouble every spring when roots grow, helps a plumber choose a maintenance schedule instead of reacting to every backup.
Cost and insurance basics
Cleaning is usually priced by access and equipment, and a camera pass is an added step. Standard homeowners policies often exclude sewer backup unless an endorsement was added, so ask your agent about coverage before a storm.
We clean sewer lines for homes in Barberton, Norton and Copley.
Questions readers ask
Yes. A cutter head removes roots, but roots grow back unless the entry point is repaired.
A typical cleaning takes a couple of hours including setup and a flow test.
Rarely by itself. Backup coverage is often an endorsement, so check your policy.
It depends where the blockage sits. Ask the city utilities office, and we can camera the line to show where it is.
Stop all water use, keep people away from the wet area and avoid chemical cleaners.
Have a question about your own home? Call (855) 575-2890.