Sewer backup: what to do first
Stop all water
No flushing, showers, dishwasher or laundry. Every drop adds to the problem.
Keep out of the water
Sewage carries bacteria. Keep children and pets away, and do not touch it barehanded.
Turn off power if water is near electric
If water is near outlets, a furnace or a panel, shut off the breaker only if you can reach it without standing in water. Otherwise leave the room and call.
Call the 24/7 line
We schedule same-day or after-hours service when available. Tell us which fixtures are backing up.
Signs of a main line clog
Several fixtures at once
A toilet, shower and sink all draining poorly means the shared main drain is the likely problem.
Floor drain activity
Water or gurgling in a basement floor drain is often the first sign the main line is blocked.
Flushing sends water elsewhere
If a flush makes the tub bubble or fill, the water has nowhere to go but out the lowest opening.
Bad smell near the cleanout
Sewer odor in the basement without any visible water can mean the line is partly blocked.
Sewer smell or a bubbling floor drain?
Call (603) 815-9179 and a licensed plumber will tell you what to do while we dispatch.
Your pipe or the city main: telling them apart
Part of Methuen's sewer system is combined, carrying household wastewater and storm runoff in the same pipe, and the flow is treated at the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District plant in North Andover. In heavy rain, a combined system can get overloaded, and flow can push back toward low basements.
That is why it matters to know where your problem starts. A clog in your own lateral is a plumbing job. A backed-up city main is something the city has to address.
| Clue | Points to your lateral | Points to the street main |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Backup happens in dry weather | Backup happens during or after heavy rain |
| Neighbors | Only your house is affected | Neighbors have the same problem |
| Cleanout | Water stands in your cleanout | Cleanout is dry or fills only in storms |
| Repeat pattern | Slows down gradually over weeks | Appears suddenly in a storm |
If the cleanout shows water and a cable clears the line, it was yours. If the line is clear and the backup comes only with rain, call the city. We will tell you honestly which one we think it is, and we do not assign blame either way.
Heavy rain, surcharge and backwater
During intense storms, water levels in the sewer rise. If your basement drain sits lower than the sewer, the flow can reverse. A backwater valve on the building drain is one way to stop that, and we can look at whether one makes sense for your home.
Methuen has places that flood in storms, including the Bloody Brook and Jackson Street corridor, where city reports describe localized flash flooding two to three times a year. If you live in a low area near the Spicket River, a storm backup may not mean your pipe is clogged. See our sump pump repair page if your basement also takes on groundwater.
Where is the cleanout?
A cleanout is a capped pipe that gives direct access to the main drain. Most homes have one in the basement near where the main drain exits the foundation, or outside close to the house wall. It is often 3 or 4 inches across, with a square or round cap.
Do not open a cleanout under pressure. If the line is full, removing the cap releases sewage. Let a plumber do it with a plan to contain the flow.
Cabling or jetting a sewer line
Cabling
- Drills through the clog
- Good for a first-time stoppage
- Works through a standard cleanout
- May not clear grease on the walls
Hydro jetting
- Scours the pipe clean
- Best for grease and repeat clogs
- Needs pipe in good shape
- Camera look recommended first
We pick the method after seeing what the line is doing. Read more on hydro jetting if your main has clogged more than once.
Roots in the sewer line
Roots find tiny gaps in joints and grow into the pipe looking for water. A root mass can stop flow completely. Clay and older cast iron are the usual targets. A cutting head can clear them, but they come back unless the joint is repaired or the pipe is relined.
Prevention that actually works
- Keep wipes, even ones labeled flushable, out of the toilet
- Put grease in a can for the trash, not in the sink
- Schedule a camera check if you have had more than one backup
- Know where your cleanout is and keep it accessible
- Keep large trees from being planted over the line
What affects the cost of sewer line cleaning
What affects the price
Sewer cleaning varies with what we find. You get a clear price before work starts.
Want your real number? Call (603) 815-9179 and describe what is backing up.
Floor drain and flooded basement safety
Until we arrive
- Wear boots and gloves if you must enter, and wash hands thoroughly
- Do not run a wet vacuum on sewage
- Do not mix cleaning chemicals, especially bleach and ammonia
- Photograph the damage before you move anything
- Open windows for ventilation if safe to do so
If your system has been flooded with sewage, discard porous items that got soaked, such as carpet and cardboard. For ongoing groundwater or seepage, the basement waterproofing page explains what can be done.
Questions we hear
Yes. Our 24/7 dispatch covers sewer backups at any hour. Same-day appointments are offered when available, and we ask you to keep water off and stay out of the affected area until we arrive.
Where your responsibility ends and the city's begins depends on the property, so ask the city before assuming. A cable and a camera help tell which section of pipe has the problem. If the camera shows the trouble is out in the street main, the city is the one to call.
That pattern often points to the sewer being overloaded in a storm, which can push flow back. A backwater valve may help, and the city should know if the main is surcharged.
It is a blockage in the large pipe that carries all of your house's wastewater out. Signs are multiple fixtures backing up and a floor drain overflowing.
Cabling is fine for a one-time stoppage. Jetting is better for grease and repeat clogs. We decide after seeing the pipe.
Do not flush wipes, keep grease out of drains, and book a camera check if you have had more than one backup. Roots may need a repair.
Sewage in the house? Call (603) 815-9179 now.