The main line is blocked: here is what to do tonight
When the main sewer line stops, the first sign is often a toilet that will not flush, a tub that fills when you run the washer or a basement floor drain that bubbles. Stop all water use in the house. Wastewater has nowhere to go and every fixture you run adds to the problem.
Look outside for a cleanout, a capped pipe near the house or in the yard. If you can see one, tell us where it is when you call. It speeds things up.
What usually blocks a main sewer line
The cause decides the method, so we start by asking what has been going on.
- Tree and shrub roots that entered through joints and grew into a mat
- Grease that cooled and hardened in the pipe over time
- Wipes, paper towels and other items that do not break down
- A sag or offset in the pipe where solids settle
- Debris pushed into the line by a previous plumbing job
How a main line is cleared
Different blockages call for different tools. This table shows how we match them.
| What we find | Tool | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Soft clog or paper | Drain machine with a retrieving head | Run water and check flow at every fixture |
| Roots | Cutting head, then jetting | Camera to find the entry point |
| Grease and scale | Hydro jetting | Camera to confirm a clean wall |
| Repeated blockages | Cable and camera together | Discuss repair options if the pipe is damaged |
Not sure it is the main line?
Describe which fixtures are slow and whether any bubble. We will tell you what it sounds like.
What happens when you call
- 1
A few questions
Which fixtures are affected, where does the water show, is there a cleanout.
- 2
Clear the line
We pass the right tool through the cleanout and bring the line back to flow.
- 3
Look inside
A camera pass shows roots, cracks or a sag, and you see the footage.
- 4
Plan what is next
If the pipe is sound, we advise on prevention. If not, we explain the repair options.
What affects the price of sewer cleaning
Sewer lines in Canyon Park, North Creek and Downtown Bothell
Neighborhoods built in different decades use different pipe. The older parts of Downtown Bothell and areas east of the river may have clay or cast iron, while newer subdivisions around Canyon Park and North Creek usually have plastic. Roots matter more in the older pipe, and grease matters in any line.
If your street is served by Northshore Utility District or by the City of Bothell, the public main is theirs and the pipe on your lot is yours. If water is backing up in the street, call the utility. If it is only in your house, call us. When roots keep returning, sewer line repair is the permanent answer.
We clean through approved access points and note any cleanout that does not meet the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted in WAC 51-56.
Sewer line cleaning questions
Yes. Our emergency line is open 24 hours a day, every day. Call (425) 845-0257 and tell us what is backing up. We give a clear price before work starts.
If several fixtures are slow or gurgle, or water shows at a floor drain, it is likely the main line. One slow drain usually means a clog in that fixture.
A camera is the only way to see whether the pipe is damaged. If the blockage was simple and the line is new, you may not need it. After a root blockage or a repeat, we recommend one.
Only when it is needed. A line with a history of roots or grease may benefit from cleaning on a schedule that suits the problem. A line with no history does not need routine cleaning.
Rental machines can injure you and damage the pipe. We advise against it. Call a plumber who can control the machine and check the result with a camera.
That can mean a break in the pipe. Keep people and pets away and call us. See sewer inspection for how we locate the damage.