A sewer backup is urgent, and our dispatch answers 24/7. Stop using every fixture in the building right now, including toilets, laundry and dishwashers. Keep children and pets out of the wet area, stay away from outlets and the furnace if water is near them, and do not use a wet vacuum on sewage.
Sewer line cleaning clears the main drain that carries all of the building's waste out to the public sewer. It is different from clearing a sink, because the clog is typically 30 to 80 feet from the fixture and lives in a pipe that is 4 inches or larger. We use a large cable machine with cutting heads, a camera, and hydro jetting when the buildup calls for it.
Sewer backup: what to do first
The next ten minutes decide how much damage the water does.
Stop adding flow
Every flush or load of laundry adds gallons to a line that is already full. Ask upstairs neighbors to stop too.
Ask the street
Check whether a neighbor has the same problem. If several buildings back up at once, the Town may need to look at the public main.
Photograph the damage
Take pictures of the water line, wet items and any visible debris. An insurer will ask for them later.
Open a path
Clear belongings away from the basement cleanout so the machine can reach the line.
We schedule same-day appointments when available, and the 24/7 line is open on nights and weekends.
Sewage in the basement?
Call (617) 752-0573 and stop water use. We answer around the clock.
Your side or the Town's: the Brookline split
The Town of Brookline's water and sewer FAQ states that the homeowner is responsible for the service line from and including the connection to the public sewer main. The Town is responsible for blockages within the public sewer main. A repair to the sewer pipe must be done by a licensed drain layer.
If only your building is backed up, the clog is probably in the lateral. If the whole block is affected, call the Town's 24/7 water and sewer emergency line at 617-730-2175 and then call us for your side. In Boston neighborhoods such as Brighton, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission handles the street main, and the owner is responsible for the whole lateral.
Why a building lateral clogs in the first place
Census ACS estimates for 2020 to 2024 give 1938 as the median year Brookline homes were built, so many laterals are decades old. Older pipe often has rough walls, offset joints or low spots where solids settle, and every one of those catches paper and grease.
Roots are the other usual cause. They creep into a joint searching for moisture, then grow into a mat across the bore. Wipes sold as flushable also gather in the same places, and the Town's sewer guidance warns they do not break down in the sewer.
Signs the main sewer line is the problem
- Lowest drain fills first. A basement shower or floor drain bubbles or overflows when anyone upstairs flushes.
- Toilet and tub together. Flushing a toilet makes the tub gurgle or rise.
- Sewer odor outside. A sour smell near the cleanout or a wet patch in the yard.
- More than one fixture. Several drains slow at once rather than just one sink.
Backwater valves: what the Town's policy says
A backwater valve is a check device in the building drain that keeps sewage from flowing backward into low fixtures when the street main surcharges. Brookline's Backwater Valve Policy covers fixtures located below the roadway. It cites 248 CMR 10.15, requires a licensed plumber and a Building Department permit, and puts installation and maintenance on the owner.
That last point matters. A valve that is never opened and cleaned can jam shut and cause a backup of its own, so we check it during a cleaning visit. Homeowners cannot pull plumbing permits in Brookline, so the licensed plumber pulls it.
Cleaning methods for a main sewer line
| Method | What it does | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Large cable with root cutter | Cuts through roots and breaks up a plug | Leaves scale and grease on the wall |
| Hydro jetting | Washes the wall and carries debris away | Needs sound pipe. See hydro jetting |
| Camera run | Shows the cause and the pipe condition | Pipe must be open enough for the lens |
| Sewer line repair | Replaces or relines a failed pipe | Cleaning alone will not fix a break. See sewer line repair |
After a heavy clog, a sewer camera inspection records the pipe so you know what you are dealing with.
What moves the price of sewer line cleaning
You get a clear price before work starts. These items shift the number.
- Length of the lateralA short run from the foundation to the street is quicker than a long run across a deep lot.
- Cleanout accessA cleanout keeps it simple. No cleanout means pulling a toilet or cutting in a new one.
- Type of blockagePaper and soft waste are one thing. A dense root mass or packed grease can need cutting and a second pass.
- Camera runAdding video lets you see the pipe and adds time.
- Water damageWe clear the line. Pump-out, cleanup and drying of an affected basement are separate work.
Sewer backup is commonly excluded from a standard homeowner policy unless an endorsement was added. Check yours, and keep your photos and our written description of the work.
Want your real number? Call (617) 752-0573.
Sewer line cleaning questions
Yes. Dispatch is open 24/7, and sewage in a basement does not wait for business hours. We book same-day appointments when available and tell you what you can do before the technician arrives.
If the Town's emergency line (617-730-2175) finds the blockage in the public main, the Town clears it. If it is in the pipe from your foundation to the main, it belongs to you. We can use a camera to show which side the clog sits on.
Clearing a blocked drain does not need a plumbing permit under the state's consumer guidance. Repair or replacement does, and a licensed plumber pulls it.
It is worth asking about if you have fixtures below the roadway and have backed up before. The Town's policy requires a permit and a licensed plumber, and the owner maintains the valve.
Nearly all of Brookline is on the public sewer. The Town's stormwater report puts it at 99.9 percent of the population, so septic systems are rare here. Call and describe your setup before we promise anything.
It can. Brookline requires that downspouts and sump pumps not discharge to the sewer, and extra water in the line contributes to surcharging. If yours is connected, a licensed plumber should reroute it. See sump pump repair.
Clear the main line
Call (617) 752-0573. Describe which drains are slow and we will dispatch.