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Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury & King

(365) 990-3021

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A round metal manhole cover set in rough concrete

The Line That Links Your House to the Street

Main Sewer Line Clearing for Newmarket Homes

When the main line clogs, every drain in the house is affected and dirty water rises wherever the house sits lowest, nearly always the basement floor drain. This is the call that should not wait until morning.

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or dial (365) 990-3021

  • Parts for common repairs carried on the van
  • Older Main Street homes and newer subdivisions alike
  • Floors covered and the work area wiped down after
  • The fault shown to you at the pipe before any work starts
  • Licensed trade plumbers
  • 7-day call line
  • Newmarket & York Region
  • Residential & commercial
Service
Main Sewer Line Clearing
Category
Drains and sewers
Where
Newmarket and nearby York Region
Booking
By telephone

Clues that point to main sewer line clearing

  • Water or sewage welling up through the basement floor drain each time the washer pumps out or a toilet upstairs is flushed.
  • Every fixture on the lowest level draining slowly at the same time.
  • Toilets that bubble when a tub or sink drains.
  • A wet patch or sewer smell near the front cleanout.

Stop using water as soon as you notice any of these. Each flush adds to what is already sitting below the basement floor.

Our method, in order

  1. Find the access. Most Newmarket houses have a cleanout in the basement near the front wall, usually a threaded plug on the main drain. Some older homes have only a floor drain, and we work through that.
  2. Relieve the pressure. A backed-up main can push water out when the plug comes loose, so we open it slowly with containers ready.
  3. Run the large machine. A sectional or drum cable with a root cutter goes out toward the street, usually forty to eighty feet.
  4. Confirm the flow. We run several fixtures together and listen at the floor drain.
  5. Offer a camera look. If roots or a sag caused the stoppage, a camera inspection shows whether it will happen again.

Newmarket houses and this job

Mature trees along older streets are the main culprit. Silver maples and willows send fine roots into any loose joint in a clay or early concrete lateral, and those roots thicken every summer. Homes built before the 1970s in the centre of town are the most likely to have clay pipe under the front lawn.

Newer subdivisions with PVC laterals rarely see roots, but they do see wipes, paper towels and the occasional child's toy. The pipe is smooth; the trouble is what was flushed.

Your lateral is your responsibility up to the property line in most cases, while the Town looks after the sewer main and the portion in the road allowance. If our camera shows damage near the street, we will explain where the line is likely to fall and suggest you contact the Town to confirm. Check the Town's current policy, since terms can change.

Bench note

Know where your cleanout is before you need it. Keeping it clear of shelving and boxes saves time and mess on a bad night.

When to call us

Any time water appears at the floor drain, call right away. If you are worried about the next storm as well, a backwater valve is worth discussing once the line is clear.

Phoned-in questions

How often should a main line be cleaned?

Only when needed, unless roots are confirmed. A line with known root intrusion often benefits from clearing every one to two years until it is repaired.

Is a sewer backup covered by insurance?

Many home policies offer sewer backup coverage as an add-on. Read your policy or ask your broker, since the details vary.

Keep reading

Call (365) 990-3021