Overview
The main sewer is the single pipe that carries everything out of the house. Clogs there come from roots finding a joint, grease that slipped past the kitchen branch, and things like wipes and paper towels that never break down. Sometimes the cause is the pipe itself: a sag from settling soil holds water and lets solids collect.
We clear mains from an outdoor cleanout whenever there is one, because it is the cleanest and most direct route. Without a cleanout, we can go through a toilet flange or a roof vent, though adding a cleanout is a worthwhile upgrade if you have had more than one backup.
How we handle it
Open the cleanout
Relieve the backup safely before running the cable.
Cable to the tap
Full run out to the city connection, not just past the clog.
Recommend a look
Camera if roots or repeats point to a deeper problem.
What it costs
Clearing a main from an accessible outdoor cleanout is the baseline. Going through a toilet or roof vent, a very long run to the street or a heavy root mass takes more time. Adding a cleanout is quoted separately and pays for itself if you have repeat backups.
Good to know
- Know where the outdoor cleanout cap sits and keep it clear of mulch and shrubs.
- Plant new trees well away from the sewer path to the street.
- Keep wipes, paper towels and feminine products in the trash, not the toilet.
Subdivisions built in the 1980s around Braun Station and Guilbeau mostly have PVC mains, but tree roots still find the joints, especially where live oaks grow near the line.
Sewer cleaning questions
No cleanout at my house. Now what?
We can still clear the line, often through a toilet. Adding a cleanout makes future service quicker and cleaner.
Are flushable wipes safe?
No. They hold together far longer than toilet paper and are a leading cause of main clogs.
Can sewer cleaning wait until morning?
If sewage is coming up, use as little water as possible. We can come tonight.
Why does my tub fill when I flush?
The toilet's water has nowhere to go past a main line clog, so it backs up into the lowest drain, which is often the tub.