Main and branch linesCleared with drain machines
Hydro-jettingWashes grease and roots off the pipe wall
Camera inspectionSee what was in the line
What the city’s cameras found under downtown Buckley
Buckley’s sewer system was first built in the early 1930s. The older mains downtown are clay pipe with mortared joints and concrete pipe from the same years. When the city’s engineers went through video inspections of those lines for the current sewer plan, they noted some root penetration and grease buildup, and recommended more attention to cleaning.
Roots and grease are the same two things that close off a private drain line. Roots enter at a joint or a crack and grow toward the water. Grease coats the pipe wall and narrows it a little more each month. The trees that grow naturally on Buckley’s soil are big ones, including Douglas-fir, western redcedar, red alder and bigleaf maple, and a mature tree near an old line can find its way in.
Signs the trouble is past the fixture
- Two or more drains slow at the same time
- A toilet that bubbles when the tub or washer empties
- Water rising in the shower when you flush
- The lowest drain in the house backing up first
- A sewer smell at a floor drain or outside cleanout
- The same clog returning a few weeks after it was cleared
One slow sink is a different job. For that, see kitchen and bathroom clogs in Buckley.
Matching the tool to the pipe
Old clay and concrete pipe needs a different touch than new plastic, so we look at what we’re working in before choosing how hard to hit it.
- Drain machines in sizes for small branch lines up through main lines. A cable bores through the blockage and gets the line flowing.
- Cutting heads that shear off roots growing into a line
- A hydro-jetter that sends water down the line at high pressure and strips grease, sludge and fine roots from the pipe wall
- Drain and sewer cameras to see the condition of the line, before or after cleaning
Brittle or broken pipe gets the gentler approach. If a line is too far gone to clean safely, we’ll tell you that instead of forcing it and making things worse.
Cleanouts: newer Buckley homes have them, older ones may not
A cleanout is a capped opening that lets a plumber into the line without pulling a toilet. Buckley’s public works standards call for one on every new side sewer, set at the edge of the street right-of-way, and for cleanouts no more than 100 feet apart on the private run, plus one at any sharp bend.
Homes built before those standards may not have one, or it may be under a flower bed. It’s worth finding yours before you need it. Look near the foundation on the side of the house that faces the street, and near the property line.
Why Buckley drains fail in the wet months
Rain in the Buckley area averages about 43 inches a year, and November is the wettest month. The soil under most of town drains poorly and holds a high water table through winter and spring.
That water finds its way into drain lines. The city’s sewer plan describes how groundwater enters through defective pipe and joints, most of all after storms and long wet spells. On a private line, the result is a pipe that works in August and backs up in November, because it’s carrying groundwater along with everything from the house.
Buckley’s sewers also began as a combined storm and sanitary system, and the city has spent years separating them, including removing roof drains from the sanitary sewer. On an older property, a downspout or yard drain that still ties into the sewer line adds to the load in every storm.
If your line backs up on a seasonal schedule, clearing it will get you through the week. A camera will show why it keeps happening. Either way you get upfront pricing, by the job, not by the hour.
Did the camera find a break, a sag or heavy roots? That goes beyond cleaning. See sewer line services in Buckley for inspection, cleaning and repair of the side sewer.
Drain Cleaning FAQs
Are tree roots a real problem in Buckley drain lines?
They are for the city, so it’s fair to expect them on private lines too. Buckley’s sewer plan says the city’s video inspections showed some root penetration and grease buildup in the downtown sewers, where the oldest pipe is. Roots get in at joints and cracks and grow toward the water. Cutting them reopens the line, and a camera shows whether the pipe itself needs repair.
My Buckley house doesn’t seem to have a cleanout. Can you still clear the main line?
Usually, yes. City standards for new side sewers call for a capped fitting near the property line that serves as a cleanout, plus cleanouts along longer runs. Older homes may have none, or one buried under years of landscaping. We look for it first. If there isn’t one, the line can usually be reached another way, such as through the drain under a pulled toilet.
Why does my drain back up in November and behave all summer?
Wet ground. November is Buckley’s wettest month, and the soil here holds a high water table through winter. Groundwater seeps into a drain line through cracked pipe and loose joints, so a line that copes in dry weather runs nearly full in the rainy season. A camera inspection shows where the water is getting in.
How do I know if the blockage is in my line or the city’s main?
If only your house is affected, it’s almost always your line. The City of Buckley maintains the public mains, and the side sewer on your property is private. If neighbors are backing up too, or sewage is coming up at a manhole, call Buckley Public Works. When we run a camera, we can see how far the blockage is from the house.
Do I get a price before the work starts?
Yes. We find out what’s blocked and how we plan to clear it, then give you a price for the job, not an hourly rate, before we begin.