Drain Cleaning Service — Delaware County PA
Drain Cleaning Service in Delaware County PA
A blocked drain is not always a simple fix. In older homes throughout Delaware County — and most of the county’s housing stock predates 1970 — a drain that backs up repeatedly is often a symptom of something deeper than a clog at a fixture trap. Main sewer line problems, deteriorated pipe, root intrusion, and the absence of a working cleanout access point all play into how a drain problem gets diagnosed and resolved.
Advanced Drains and Underground Solutions handles drain cleaning from the straightforward to the structural, serving Springfield, Aston, Havertown, Drexel Hill, Upper Darby, Clifton Heights, Chester, Media, Newtown Square, Broomall, Ridley Park, Boothwyn, Swarthmore, Lansdowne, Sharon Hill, Yeadon, Collingdale, Morton, Norwood, and Glenolden.
Types of Drain Cleaning We Do
- Main line auger (cable rodding): A rotating cable is fed through the main sewer line to break up or retrieve a blockage. Effective for soft obstructions — accumulated grease, sludge, or a root mass that has not fully occupied the pipe bore.
- Hydro-jetting: High-pressure water is directed through the pipe to scour the walls and flush debris downstream. Hydro-jetting removes grease buildup, mineral scale, and cuts through root masses that cable rodding only punches through. It cleans the pipe wall, not just the center of the bore.
- Camera inspection: A drain camera run through the main line shows the condition of the pipe, the location and nature of any blockage, root entry points, cracks, and offset joints. Camera inspection before and after cleaning confirms the work was effective and identifies any underlying structural problems that cleaning alone cannot fix.
- Drain cleanout installation: A cleanout is a vertical access fitting installed at a bend, junction, or specific point in the drain line that allows a camera or jetter to enter without going through a fixture. Many homes built before 1970 in Delaware County do not have a main line cleanout in a usable location. Installing one is frequently the first step before productive drain work can be done.
Main Line Problem vs. Fixture Clog
A clog at a single fixture — a bathroom sink or tub that drains slowly — is usually a trap or branch drain problem that does not involve the main sewer line. The signs that the main line is involved are different:
- Multiple fixtures backing up at the same time, especially on the same floor or in the basement
- A toilet that gurgles when you run the sink or shower in the same bathroom
- A floor drain in the basement that backs up when a washing machine runs or an upstairs toilet flushes
- Sewage smell in the basement without a visible source
- A drain that clears temporarily after rodding but backs up again within weeks or months
Recurring main line problems — the drain that keeps coming back — usually mean the obstruction is not being fully cleared, or there is a structural issue such as root intrusion or a partially collapsed pipe that cleaning alone will not resolve. Camera inspection after clearing establishes which situation applies.
Why Local Response Time Matters
A main line backup is not a problem you wait on. Sewage backing up into a basement floor drain is a health issue and a damage risk. Because we are based in Delaware County — Springfield and Aston — we are positioned to respond across the county without a long drive from outside the area. We know the neighborhoods, the housing types, and the infrastructure patterns in Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Chester, Havertown, and the boroughs throughout the county.
Hydro-Jetting vs. Mechanical Rodding
Both methods clear blockages. The right choice depends on pipe condition and what is causing the obstruction.
Mechanical rodding is faster and appropriate for soft blockages in pipe that is in reasonable condition. It breaks through the obstruction and restores flow. The pipe wall itself is not cleaned — grease and scale remain after rodding.
Hydro-jetting cleans the pipe wall and is more thorough, but it requires a camera inspection first on older pipes. High-pressure water should not be run through cast iron pipe that is severely corroded, thinned, or cracked — jetting can damage pipe in that condition further. Cast iron lines that have not been inspected get a camera first, no exceptions.
For homes with tree roots in the lateral — common in older neighborhoods where large trees line sidewalk strips — hydro-jetting cuts through root masses and flushes them out. Rodding only breaks through the center of a root mass, leaving the root structure attached to the pipe wall. If roots are entering through cracks or open joints, the long-term fix is repair of the pipe itself, not repeated cleaning.
The Cleanout Access Problem in Older DELCO Homes
A main line cleanout is a capped fitting that provides direct access to the main sewer lateral without removing a fixture. Without one, getting camera or jetter equipment into the line requires removing a toilet or entering through the roof vent stack — both of which limit what can be done and how far equipment can reach.
Many Delaware County homes built before 1970 were not built with a proper exterior cleanout, or the original cleanout has been buried, paved over, or broken off below grade. When we arrive at a home with a main line backup and no accessible cleanout, the first task is locating or installing one before productive cleaning or camera work can proceed.
Installing a cleanout typically means excavating a small area at or near the foundation wall, cutting into the existing pipe, and installing a wye fitting with a capped cleanout riser. Once in place, it provides permanent access for all future drain maintenance.
DELCORA and Lateral Ownership
DELCORA — the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority — manages the public sewer infrastructure in much of the county. The homeowner is responsible for the lateral from the house connection to the street main. DELCORA owns and maintains the main in the street. The Haverford Township Sewer Authority manages its own service area under the same general arrangement.
This matters for drain cleaning because a backup caused by a problem in the lateral is the homeowner’s responsibility to resolve. Calling the sewer authority handles breaks in the public main — not problems in your private lateral from the house.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a main sewer line be cleaned?
There is no universal schedule. Homes with large trees near the lateral, older clay tile or cast iron pipe, or a history of recurring slowdowns benefit from periodic inspection and cleaning — generally every one to two years. Homes with newer PVC pipe and no tree pressure may go much longer without needing service. The history of the specific line is the best guide.
Is hydro-jetting safe for old pipes?
Hydro-jetting is safe for pipes that are structurally sound. It is not appropriate for cast iron pipe that is severely corroded, thinned, or cracked — high pressure can damage pipe in that condition further. That is why we run a camera inspection before jetting any line we have not previously assessed. The camera footage determines whether the pipe can handle the pressure.
What if the drain backs up again shortly after cleaning?
A drain that clears and then backs up again within a few weeks usually means the cleaning addressed the symptom but not the cause. The most common causes are active root intrusion through a crack or open joint, a partial pipe collapse that restricts flow, or a low spot in the line where solids accumulate. Camera inspection during or after the backup identifies which condition applies and what repair is needed.
Advanced Drains and Underground Solutions provides drain cleaning, hydro-jetting, camera inspection, and cleanout installation throughout Delaware County PA. We are based in Springfield and Aston and serve the full county. For main line backups or drain problems that keep coming back, call 1-855-DONT-DIG.