Sewer backup: what to do first
If sewage is coming up in a basement floor drain or a ground-level tub, call right away. Our dispatch is open 24/7, and while you wait you should stop using water everywhere, including toilets, showers and the washer, because each flush adds to the flood.
Keep out of the wet area and keep children and pets away. Leave electrical panels alone if the floor around them is wet, and tell the dispatcher about it.
Signs the main line is blocked
A main sewer blockage affects the whole house at once, and the lowest drain shows it first.
- Floor drain or basement toilet backs up
- Several fixtures drain slowly at the same time
- Gurgling in a toilet when the washer discharges
- Sewage smell in the basement or yard
- Water pools around the cleanout cap
How Barberton's sewer system raises the stakes
The city's sewer network includes combined, sanitary and storm sewers, according to its own stormwater information. After heavy rain a loaded system can push water back toward low basements, and a partly blocked lateral makes that backup more likely.
Barberton sits in a valley beside the Tuscarawas River, with creeks feeding in from several sides. The June 2019 flooding showed how quickly water finds basements here, so a clear lateral before storm season is cheap insurance. Ask the city which part of the line is yours before you pay for work on the street side.
Main line cleaning methods
The tool depends on what is in the pipe.
| Tool | Best for | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer cable (drum machine) | Roots, paper, a soft blockage | Leaves grease on the wall |
| Cutter head on cable | Root masses in clay lines | Cannot repair the joint |
| Hydro jetter | Grease, scale, fine roots | Not for collapsed pipe |
| Camera pass after cleaning | Confirming the cause | Adds time to the visit |
Our sewer cleaning process
Every call starts the same way and ends with proof.
- 1
Locate the cleanout
We find the cleanout, often near the foundation or at the lowest point inside.
- 2
Open the line
A cable or jetter clears the blockage while we watch how the water drains.
- 3
Camera the line
We run a camera when the blockage came back or the pipe is old.
- 4
Report what we saw
You get a plain explanation and a repair option if the pipe is damaged.
Why roots keep coming back
Roots seek moisture and enter through a joint the size of a thread. Cutting them clears the line for months or a year, but it does not close the entry point.
If you have cleaned the same line twice in a year, a sewer inspection with a camera is the sensible next step, and a sewer line repair may be cheaper than a third cleaning.
What affects the cost
We quote clearly before work starts.
Standard homeowners policies often exclude sewer backup unless an endorsement was added, so check your policy before a storm and ask your agent about backup coverage. For a price on your line, call (855) 575-2890.
Where we work
We clear main lines throughout Barberton and in Norton and Copley. Landlords and building managers can book through the same line, and our commercial plumbing page covers multi-unit buildings.
Sewage in the basement?
Call the 24/7 line now. Do not wait for it to dry out on its own.
Sewer Line Cleaning questions from Barberton homeowners
Yes. Dispatch is open 24/7 and a backup that has reached a living space is treated as urgent. We book same-day visits when a plumber is free.
It depends on where the blockage sits. Blockage inside your lateral is yours, while a problem in the city main is the city's. Call the city utilities office to ask, and we can camera the line to show where the trouble is.
A typical cleaning with a cable runs a couple of hours including setup and a flow test. A camera pass or jetting adds time.
A rented machine is strong enough to damage an old clay or cast iron pipe, and a mistake can turn into a repair. We advise a professional for any main line.
Stay out of it, ventilate if you safely can, and call us for the cleanout. A restoration company handles cleanup and disinfection, and we can point you to the right next step.
Main line blocked? Call (855) 575-2890.