Sewer line cleaning clears the main pipe that carries all of your wastewater out of the house. When it blocks, every drain is affected at once, and sewage can surface in the basement or the lowest bathroom. That is an emergency, and our 24/7 line is staffed at night and on weekends, with same-day dispatch when schedules allow.
Stop using water right away. While you wait, avoid flushing, showering and running the washer, and keep people away from any standing sewage. Call (603) 815-9179 and tell the dispatcher which drains are slow and which are overflowing.
A mainline blockage is only the symptom. We clear it with the right tool, then use a camera to learn why it formed, so you know whether it will return.
Why main sewer lines block
Main lines carry more than kitchen and bath water, and they block for reasons that differ by house. Understanding the cause tells us how to clear it.
Tree roots
Roots enter through tiny leaks at joints, then thicken into a net that catches paper and solids. They are the most common cause of repeat backups on older clay and cast iron lines.
Grease and soap scale
Kitchen grease cools and clings to the pipe wall, and soap scale hardens on top of it. The bore shrinks until a flush will not pass.
Flushed wipes and hygiene products
Wipes labeled flushable do not break down like toilet paper. They tangle with roots and grease and build a plug.
A sag or a break
A low spot holds water and solids, and a broken pipe lets soil wash in. Cleaning helps for a while but does not fix either.
Sewage backing up now: how we clear a mainline blockage
If sewage is coming up in a tub or floor drain right now, stop using every fixture, keep children and pets away from it and call the 24/7 line. The dispatcher will ask which drains are affected so the right machine is on the truck.
- Find the access pointWe locate the cleanout, which is usually near the foundation or in the basement. If none exists, we can pull a toilet to enter the line.
- Cable the lineA heavy-duty drum machine with a cutting head chews through roots and packed debris and restores flow.
- Camera the resultWe run a camera to confirm the pipe is clear and to look for the cause, such as a root-filled joint or a sag.
- Jet if neededIf the walls are coated with grease or scale, we follow with hydro jetting so the pipe does not clog again within weeks.
We explain what we found in plain terms and do not push repairs the camera does not support. If the pipe is damaged, our sewer line repair page lays out the options.
A cleanout is the doorway to your sewer line
A cleanout is a capped pipe that gives direct access to the main line. With one, cleaning takes less time and costs less, because the cable goes straight in. Without one, the plumber has to work through a toilet or a roof vent.
If your house has no cleanout, installing one is a small job and a sound investment. It also gives a camera crew a clean entry for future inspections. Ask about it when we are on site.
Sewer connection or septic tank in Londonderry
The right fix depends on where your line ends. Properties on a town sewer main send flow to the street, and properties on septic send it to a tank in the yard. Public Works, at 603-432-1100, extension 460, can tell you which one you have.
We clean the house line in both cases. We do not pump septic tanks or repair leach fields. If the line is clear and backups continue, the tank is the next suspect, and we say so and suggest a septic professional.
| Setup | Where the blockage can sit | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Town sewer | Your private line, or the street main | Clear and camera your line, then direct you to Public Works if the main is blocked |
| Septic system | House line, tank inlet, outlet baffle or leach field | Clear the house line, report tank findings, refer to a septic professional |
Keeping a cleaned line clear
- Wipe grease from pans with a paper towel before washing, and never pour it down the drain.
- Flush only toilet paper. Throw wipes, floss and hygiene products in the trash.
- Keep a cleanout cap accessible and not buried under storage.
- If a tree grows within a few feet of the line, schedule a camera check every year or two.
- Do not use acid cleaners. They do not clear a main line and they harm pipes and people.
Roots and scale rebuild slowly. A line that was jetted and cleared will stay clear much longer than one that was only cabled.
What sewer line cleaning costs
The camera and the cable work are priced before we begin. The main variables are:
- Whether a cleanout is present or we have to pull a toilet.
- The length of the line and how far into it the blockage sits.
- The cleaning method needed, from cable to hydro jetting.
- A camera pass to confirm and to document the pipe.
- Emergency dispatch outside regular hours.
Insurance does not usually cover routine line cleaning. Some policies cover sudden water damage after a backup. For a number tied to your house, call (603) 815-9179.
Sewer line cleaning in Londonderry and beyond
We clear main lines across Londonderry and in Derry, Windham and Manchester. For lighter clogs in a single fixture, see our drain cleaning page, and for a recorded pipe survey, our sewer inspection service.
Cleanouts and building drains are laid out under the International Plumbing Code (IPC), so a missing cleanout is a code gap we point out.
Questions we hear in Londonderry
Yes. Sewage in living space is urgent at any hour. Call (603) 815-9179, tell the dispatcher, and ask about a same-day visit when the schedule allows.
Several drains back up at once, a basement floor drain gurgles or overflows, and flushing a toilet makes a tub bubble. Those signs point to the main line and not to a single fixture.
It clears the blockage. Whether the line stays clear depends on the cause. A camera pass shows if roots, a sag or a cracked joint will bring the clog back.
Yes. Despite the label they do not break up like toilet paper, and they snag on roots and grease to form a plug. Put them in the trash.
No. We clear the house line and report what we see at the tank inlet, and a septic professional handles pumping and the leach field.
If the camera shows the plug is past your property line, we document it and point you to Londonderry Public Works at 603-432-1100, extension 460.
If your line is the same age or material, and trees stand near it, a camera pass is a low-cost way to know.