Sewer Backing Up? Find Your Cleanout While You Wait
A good cleanout saves time and money.
- Stop using water: More water only adds to the overflow, so hold off on laundry, showers and flushing.
- Look for a capped pipe near the house or at the property line: That is usually the cleanout, and you should not open it if water is rising inside.
- Clear a path to the cleanout: Move vehicles, planters and toys so the crew can reach it quickly.
- Keep people away from sewage: Wash your hands after any contact, and keep pets out of the area.
- Call (770) 214-4545: Dispatch answers nights, weekends and holidays.
Why Main Lines Clog
Four causes account for most blockages.
Roots enter small cracks and grow into dense mats that catch paper. Grease from kitchens cools and coats the pipe wall over time. Flushed wipes and hygiene products do not break down the way paper does. Sagging sections hold water and let solids settle, which narrows the pipe further each month.
Each cause calls for a slightly different tool, and our approach starts with what the symptoms and the camera tell us. A cable with a root cutter handles roots, a jet scours grease and a camera spots the sagging section.
If clearing the line leaves it open but the drains still gurgle, there may be a deeper problem. In that case a sewer camera inspection is the right next step.
Our Cleaning Methods
The tool depends on the blockage.
Cable with cutter head
Spins through roots and soft blockages and restores flow quickly.
Hydro jetting
High-pressure water scours grease and scale from the pipe wall. See hydro jetting
Camera follow-up
A second pass confirms the line is clear and shows any damage left behind.
Root treatment advice
We recommend a schedule when roots keep returning.
Main line blocked?
Call the 24/7 line. A plumber will clear it and confirm the result on camera.
Cleaning Versus Repair: What We Tell You
Cleaning solves a clog. It does not fix a broken pipe.
A cleaned pipe that is cracked, offset or collapsed will clog again. We camera the line after cleaning and show you what remains, and if the damage is serious we explain the repair options and the likely timeline.
When roots keep returning, repair often costs less over time than repeated cleanings. Our sewer line repair page explains the methods we use.
Cleanouts and building drains are covered by Georgia's state minimum plumbing code, based on the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC). If we find a missing or damaged cleanout, we tell you what correcting it involves.
Preventing the Next Main Line Backup
Small habits keep lines clear.
- Keep grease out of drains: Pour it into a can and put it in the trash instead of down the sink.
- Flush only toilet paper: Wipes labeled flushable do not break down the way paper does, and they pile up in the main.
- Know where your cleanout is: Keep it clear and capped so a crew can reach it fast.
- Schedule a camera look every year or two: This matters most if you have mature trees near the line.
- Act on early signs: Slow drains and gurgling toilets are warnings that the line needs attention.
What Changes the Price of Sewer Line Cleaning
The blockage and the access decide the work.
- Blockage typeSoft debris clears fast. Dense roots and heavy grease take more time.
- AccessA cleanout at the right spot speeds the job.
- Method neededCabling costs less time than jetting plus a camera pass.
- Hour of the callEmergency calls at night or on weekends include after-hours labor.
You hear the price before we start, and we stop to talk if the camera finds damage.
Sewer Cleaning in Peachtree Corners and Nearby
County and homeowner lines meet near the property edge.
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources owns the main and the lateral inside the right-of-way. You own the lateral from there to the house. A blockage near the street may fall in the county section, and a blockage near the house falls on your side. We camera the line to find out which section holds the problem, and we tell you what to do next.
Our Norcross crews cover the neighborhoods just south of the city, where older laterals are common. If a blockage is in the county section, the county's 24/7 dispatch can send a crew, and requesting an inspection before repairs keeps reimbursement possible.
Sewer Line Cleaning Questions in Peachtree Corners
Yes. The line at (770) 214-4545 is open around the clock, including holidays. Dispatch gives you the earliest window when you call.
If several fixtures back up together, or a floor drain gurgles when the washing machine drains, the main line is the likely location.
It depends on the pipe and the trees nearby. Many homes never need routine cleaning. Homes with roots or grease problems may need it every year or two.
Cleaning methods are safe for sound pipe. We camera first on old or suspect lines so we choose a method the pipe can handle.
It depends on where the blockage sits. Gwinnett County owns the main and the lateral inside the right-of-way, and you own the rest.
Yes. See sewer line repair for the methods we use and how we decide.