When the basement floor drain fills, toilets gurgle and the tub shows gray water, the main line is probably blocked. Our 24/7 dispatch line takes sewer line cleaning calls in Lawrence, MA, and licensed, insured plumbers may be able to come the same day. Stop running water now and keep people out of the wet area.
Sewer line cleaning clears the large pipe that carries everything out of the building to the public sewer. It is different from clearing one sink. It targets the main line and the lateral, using a heavy cable or a water jet fed through the cleanout.
Main line blocked: when every drain in the house is involved
A single slow sink points to a local clog. A main line blockage shows up everywhere at once, and the lowest fixture shows it first. In many houses that means the basement floor drain or a ground-floor shower.
A blockage at this level is often an emergency because the waste has nowhere to go. A few more flushes can push sewage into living space. If your trouble is limited to one fixture, our drain cleaning page is the better fit.
Sewer backup: what to do tonight
These steps cut the damage while the plumber is on the way.
Do not flush or drain
Hold off on toilets, washer, dishwasher and showers. Ask everyone in the building, including upstairs neighbors.
Avoid contact
Treat the water as contaminated. Keep children, pets and bare skin out of it, and wash after any contact.
Get to the cleanout
Clear a path to the cleanout, but do not open it if water is rising. Let the plumber do that.
Call your landlord
If you rent, tell the landlord now. The sanitary code puts the drainage system on the owner.
Finding the cleanout
The cleanout is the access point for main line work. Knowing where it is saves time.
- Look near the basement floor where the main line leaves the foundation. It is often a capped pipe with a square or round plug.
- Check outside along the foundation wall, close to where the lateral exits.
- Look in the utility area or near the water heater and furnace.
- In a multi-unit building, ask the owner, since the cleanout may be shared.
- If you cannot find one, say so. A plumber may use a toilet or a roof vent.
- Never force a cap that is stuck or leaking.
No cleanout at all is common in older homes. Installing one is a good idea at the next repair, and it requires a permit.
Branch drain, main line or broken pipe
Three problems look alike from inside the house. Knowing which one you have avoids paying for the wrong fix.
Cleaning problems
- Grease, paper, wipes or hair build up in the main
- Roots enter and hang inside the pipe
- Cable or jet restores flow
- Often cleared in a single visit
Repair problems
- Cracks, offsets or collapses
- Backups return within weeks
- Camera shows damaged pipe
- Needs sewer line repair, not repeat cleaning
After any main line cleaning, ask whether a camera look makes sense. It tells you if cleaning solved the cause or only the symptom.
Every drain backing up?
Call the 24/7 line and tell us which fixtures are affected. We will plan a main line visit and bring the right cable.
Roots in the sewer line
Roots go where the water is. A hairline crack or loose joint lets moisture out, and roots follow it in. Once inside, they catch paper and grease and form a plug.
A cable with a cutting head can saw through roots, and a jet can wash the debris out. But cutting only buys time unless the entry point is sealed. If roots return within a season or two, the answer is usually lining or replacing that section. Our sewer camera inspection page shows what roots look like on camera.
City main or your lateral? Who to call in Lawrence
The city maintains the sewer mains, and the owner is responsible for the lateral from the house to the main. If a blockage is in your lateral, it is a private job. If several neighbors back up together, the problem may be in the main.
Lawrence has several combined sewer overflows along the Merrimack and Spicket Rivers, where stormwater and sewage share pipes. In heavy rain, combined systems can surcharge. If backups come during storms, report them to the city at 978-620-3580 or 978-620-3110 and ask Lawrence Water & Sewer at 978-620-3110 about the line before paying for private work.
The Greater Lawrence Sanitary District advises homeowners to make sure sump pumps and basement drains are not connected to the sanitary sewer. Extra water in the system adds to storm backups.
Keeping the main from clogging again
Flushable wipes, grease and paper towels are the main culprits. They collect at bends and rough spots in the pipe, and in older systems a rougher pipe wall catches them sooner. Put grease in the trash, and only flush toilet paper and waste.
Houses with a repeat main line problem might benefit from a periodic cleaning or from hydro jetting after a camera confirms the pipe is sound. Ask the technician for a plan based on what the footage shows.
What affects the cost of sewer line cleaning
We give a clear price before work starts. The usual factors:
Sewer line cleaning questions
Yes. Our dispatch line is 24/7, and a full sewer backup can be handled after hours. We do not promise arrival times, but we will tell you what to do while a plumber is on the way.
If several fixtures on different floors are slow, or the basement floor drain rises, suspect the main. If just one is slow, it is likely a local clog.
Heavy rain can overload sewers that also carry stormwater. It can also mean a sump or foundation drain is tied to the sanitary line. Ask the city and have the plumber check the connection.
Our work is on your lateral and plumbing. If the blockage is in the city main, the city handles it. Report it using the overflow line.
Not recommended. Chemicals rarely reach a main line blockage, and they leave caustic water that is dangerous for anyone opening the pipe.
Yes. We serve North Andover and nearby towns. Check whether your property is sewered or on septic, since septic systems need a different service.