The sewer line is the pipe that carries everything from your house out to the public sewer connection or to a septic tank. Sewer line drain cleaning means opening and cleaning that pipe, not just clearing one sink. This page explains when the sewer line is the likely problem, how it is usually cleaned, and what to ask when you call. If only one fixture is slow, the clogged drain repair page is the better place to start.
Signs the sewer line needs cleaning
- Two or more fixtures are slow or stopped at the same time
- A tub, shower or floor drain on the lowest level bubbles or fills when you run the washing machine or flush
- A toilet gurgles when another fixture drains
- A sewage smell near a drain or near the cleanout outside
- A clog that returns soon after it was cleared at a single fixture
These signs point to the line shared by all the fixtures. They do not say what is blocking it. Grease, roots, wipes and a damaged section can all cause the same pattern, and the cause decides the method. The 5 signs of a main line clog post goes through the signs in more detail, and the main line clog page covers what to say on the call.
How a sewer line is cleaned
The provider decides on a method after hearing what you describe and looking at the cleanout. The common choices are:
- Cable or drum machine. A rotating cable with a cutting head is fed into the line through the cleanout. It opens a blockage and can cut through softer roots.
- Root cutter head. A heavier cutting tool used when roots are the suspected cause. See root intrusion removal.
- Hydro jetting. High pressure water that scrubs the inside of the pipe after the blockage is opened. See hydro jetting and the snake vs hydro jetting post.
- Camera inspection. A small camera on a cable shows what is in the line and the pipe's condition afterwards. See sewer camera inspection.
None of these needs digging. They do need access, which is why a cleanout in the yard or near the house makes the work simpler.
Why the cleanout matters
A cleanout is a capped pipe that gives direct access to the sewer line. Many Florida homes are built on slabs, so much of the line is under the floor or the yard, and the cleanout is often the only practical way in. If you do not know where yours is, look along the outside wall closest to the main bathroom and near the edge of the property toward the street. Do not remove a cap if water is standing behind it or if wastewater is coming up in the house. Leave that to the provider, since a pressurized line can spill.
Cleaning versus repair
Cleaning removes what is in the pipe. It does not fix a pipe that is cracked, sagging or separated at a joint. If the line is cleaned and the problem returns, a camera look can show whether the cause is something that needs repair. Repair is a separate job with its own written quote. See sewer line repair. If wastewater has already come up inside the house, see the sewer backup page.
Who is responsible for which part
The line from the house to the connection is normally the owner's. The public sewer beyond that belongs to the utility. If several neighbors have the same problem at the same time, the cause may be in the public line, and the utility is the one to call. A provider can often tell which side a blockage is on. Your utility bill shows who serves your address, and some Bonita Springs properties are on septic instead of a public sewer, which changes who handles what. Tell the person who answers if you are on septic.
What to say when you call
- Your ZIP code in Bonita Springs, or your town if you are nearby
- Which fixtures are affected, and which was first
- Whether water is coming up in a tub, shower or floor drain
- Whether there is a sewage smell
- What you have tried, including any chemical drain cleaner
- Whether you know where the cleanout is
- Whether it is a house, a condominium or a business
Your call is connected to an independent local service provider. The provider, not this website, sets the price and decides what can be done and when. Ask what the price is for the visit and what could change it. The cost page lists questions that make quotes easier to compare.
Serving Bonita Springs and nearby towns
This page is written for Bonita Springs ZIP codes 34133, 34134, 34135 and 34136. Calls from Estero, Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers can also be connected.
Call now and say the whole house is draining slowly.
Need the sewer line cleaned?
Call now. Your call is connected to an independent local service provider who can talk through next steps.