Sewer backup: what to do first
A sewage backup is an emergency, and we answer it around the clock. Stop using every sink, shower, tub, toilet and appliance, because each one sends more water into a line that cannot take it. Then call the 24/7 line and tell the dispatcher where the water is coming up.
Keep family and pets out of the wet area and avoid touching the water. Open windows for air if the smell is strong. Take photos of the damage for your insurer before you clean up, and wait for the plumber to clear the line before you start mopping.
- Backups in the lowest drain first, usually a basement floor drain or tub.
- Toilets that gurgle when a washing machine drains.
- More than one drain slow at the same time.
- A sewage smell near the cleanout or in the cellar.
What cleaning the main line involves
The main sewer line carries everything from the house toward the street connection or the septic tank. A blockage in it affects every fixture, and the plumber begins by finding the cleanout. That is a capped fitting, often in the basement or just outside the foundation, that gives direct access to the line.
From the cleanout, the plumber sends a heavy cable with a cutting head toward the blockage. Roots, grease and wipes break up under the cutting head, and the plumber retrieves what can be pulled out. If the cable returns debris that looks like rootlets or flaked scale, a camera inspection is the next step.
Every drain slow at once?
Call the 24/7 line. A main line blockage gets worse with every flush.
Why main lines back up in older Derry neighborhoods
Streets near Derry Village and East Derry have houses that date to the 1800s and early 1900s. Their original sewer laterals may be clay or cast iron, and joints in both materials can admit roots. Neighborhood trees age along with the pipes, and the combination is a common cause of repeat blockages.
Some homes in Derry and nearby towns do not connect to a town sewer at all. They use a septic tank, and a full tank looks much like a clogged main line. If your house is on septic, tell the dispatcher, so the plumber checks the tank outlet and baffle before cleaning the line.
Signs the main line is partly blocked
A partial blockage rarely appears out of nowhere. These signs show up first, and acting on them avoids a midnight call.
- Slow drains in a bathroom group, then in the kitchen.
- Toilet water that rises and falls when a sink drains.
- Bubbles in a tub when the washer empties.
- Damp spots or odor near the foundation where the line leaves the house.
- Drains that clear after a cable visit and slow again within weeks.
Cleaning, inspecting and repairing: how the pieces fit
A clean line is only the first step when the cause is physical damage.
| Step | What it answers | Page to read |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Is the blockage soft debris, grease or roots? | This page and drain cleaning |
| Jetting | Can the pipe wall be scoured clean? | Hydro jetting |
| Camera inspection | Is the pipe cracked, offset or bellied? | Sewer inspection |
| Repair | Does a section need to be fixed or replaced? | Sewer line repair |
Planned cleaning for restaurants, rentals and older homes
Some lines clog on a schedule. A restaurant on NH 28 with a grease problem, a rental house with a lot of turnover or an older home with a root history can all benefit from a cleaning every year or two. Scheduled cleaning is cheaper than emergency calls, and the plumber can set a reminder based on what the line looks like after cleaning.
We also serve Londonderry, Windham, Hampstead, Chester and Salem. Ask the dispatcher about maintenance visits when you call.
Sewer Line Cleaning questions in Derry
Yes. The line is open 24/7, and sewer backups are among the calls we take most seriously. Call (603) 815-9179 and say where the water is coming up. The dispatcher will tell you which fixtures to stop using.
Look in the basement near where the main stack leaves the house, or on the outside wall near the foundation. It is a capped pipe, usually three or four inches wide. If you cannot find one, tell the plumber. A missing cleanout is a reason to install one.
A rented cable machine can injure hands and damage pipes if used incorrectly. For a small trap clog a hand auger is fine. A main line blockage needs the right machine, and the plumber can see what the pipe looks like afterward.
Healthy lines may never need it. Lines with roots or grease history benefit from a cleaning every one to three years. The plumber suggests a schedule after seeing the camera footage.
The symptoms look similar, but the fix differs. A septic tank may need pumping, and a drain field issue is outside house plumbing. The plumber checks both, and tells you when a septic contractor should take over.
References: Derry code enforcement (603-432-6148) for lateral work and permits. NH 811 before excavation.
Sewer backup in Derry
Call any hour. The plumber clears the line and explains what caused it.