Why the main line is a different problem
Every drain in your home eventually meets a single pipe, usually 4 inches wide, that runs out to the sewer main in the street. A blockage anywhere on that pipe backs wastewater up through the lowest opening. In most Herriman homes, that is a basement floor drain, a shower or a basement bathroom.
Upstairs fixtures keep working longer, because their drains sit higher than the stoppage. That is why a main line problem often shows up first in the lowest room. A toilet that burbles when you run the washing machine is another warning.
Kitchen and bath branch clogs are different, and the drain cleaning page covers those. This page is about the pipe that serves the whole house.
Symptom, probable location, who acts
The table below follows JBID's own guidance on telling a house problem from a main problem.
| What you see | Probable location | First check | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| One fixture slow, others fine | Branch line or trap | Run other fixtures | Home plumber with a cable |
| Lowest drain backs up when upstairs fixtures run | Main house drain | Stop all water, see if it recedes | Plumber through cleanout |
| Backup stops when water use stops | House line or private lateral | JBID's own test | Plumber, at owner's expense |
| Backup continues with nothing running | Possibly the district main | Call JBID at 801-571-1166 or 801-243-8492 | JBID, then a plumber if needed |
| Neighbors also report backups | Likely the main | Ask the neighbor and call JBID | JBID |
If the test is inconclusive, we run a camera from your cleanout. If the pipe is clear to the property line and still backs up, the district gets the call.
Backup in progress, steps to take now
Raw sewage in a bathroom or basement is an emergency, and our 24/7 line is there for it. Until the plumber arrives, you can limit the spread and make the job easier.
No water, no flushing
Even small amounts run to the lowest opening. Wait until the plumber has cleared the line.
Open the cleanout cap carefully
Only if you can reach it safely. Wear gloves and expect pressure to release. Skip this step if sewage is already pooling around it.
Isolate the area
Keep kids and pets out. Put towels or plastic along door thresholds to slow the spread.
Dry electrics first
If water reaches the furnace, panel or outlets, do not touch them. Say so when you call so the plumber can prepare.
If you are on the phone, tell dispatch whether the backup eases when nobody runs water. It helps decide where the plumber starts.
Tools used to clear a main line
Different obstructions need different tools. A plumber chooses after the first look.
Sectional cable machine
A motor-driven cable, 3/4 inch for larger lines, fitted with a cutter head. It grinds through roots, soft debris and paper plugs.
Retrieving head
A barbed or spear tip hooks rags, wipes or toys and pulls them out instead of pushing them deeper.
Hydro jet
A rotary nozzle at high pressure scours grease and scale from the wall. See the hydro jetting page for limits.
Push camera
A flexible rod with a lit lens verifies the result and shows damaged pipe that cleaning alone will not fix.
Tools are not interchangeable. Using a cutter head on a wipe plug can shred it into a worse tangle, which is why the first camera look matters.
Every drain slow or sewage rising? Call (385) 488-1892 now and stop using water until the plumber arrives.
Call (385) 488-1892Cleanout location, and how to make access easy
Cleaning through a cleanout is faster and cleaner than pulling a toilet. These spots are worth checking before the plumber arrives.
- Along the foundation wall where the sewer leaves the house, often a 3 or 4 inch cap
- In a basement or garage floor, a threaded plug near the water heater or laundry
- In the yard, a small lid between the house and the street
- Near the property line, close to where the lateral meets the district main
JBID's lateral rules call for a cleanout within 5 feet of the building and again every 100 feet, so a newer lateral should have at least one. If yours has none, we can install one during the visit, which saves cost on every future cleaning.
What causes main line backups
Wipes top the list. JBID says only human waste and toilet paper belong in the toilet, and it names baby wipes, flushable wipes, feminine products, rags and cotton swabs as backup causes. A wipe does not break up like paper, so it catches on roots or rough joints and forms a plug.
Grease is next. JBID says never to pour oil or grease down sinks, toilets or disposals. Cool it, solidify it in a jar or can, and put it in the trash.
Roots round out the list. They enter at joint gaps and collect everything else that flows past. A cut-and-flush session clears them, and the lateral may need lining afterward.
What JBID handles and what you handle
Jordan Basin Improvement District runs the sewer system serving Herriman. It cleans its own mains about every 18 months and televises them about every five years. Its pipes in public right-of-way are typically 8 inches or larger.
The district does not clear private laterals, and it says it is against the law for it to work on private property. The line from your house to the main is yours, which is why we work from your cleanout rather than from the street.
Herriman grew fast after incorporation in 1999, with subdivisions like Anthem and Rosecrest built in waves. Different builders, different years, and different pipe materials sit side by side. Ask neighbors if they have had trouble, and call JBID if a pattern shows up.
What sewer line cleaning costs, and what pushes it up
Before work starts you get a clear price. These factors shape it.
- AccessA working cleanout keeps cost down. A job that needs a toilet pulled or a wall opened costs more.
- Length and diameterCabling 30 feet is a different task from 100 feet of 4 inch lateral.
- Type of obstructionPaper clears fast. Roots, wipes and grease need heavier heads or a jet.
- Camera inspectionA recorded run adds to the visit but tells you whether the pipe is sound or needs repair.
- Hour of the callAfter-hours and holiday calls usually run at a different rate than same-day appointments when available.
A main line clog from wear or neglect is usually not an insurance event. Water damage from a covered sudden backup might be, if your policy carries a sewer backup endorsement. JBID reminds owners that sewer backups are not automatically covered. Check with your insurer.
Want your real number? Call (385) 488-1892 and describe the backup, and dispatch will walk you through the price before a plumber is sent.
After the line is clear
A clean flow is not the end of the visit. We run the camera back through the pipe to confirm the wall is clear, and note anything that will cause the next backup. A bellied section, a cracked joint, or a root intrusion is worth fixing before it fails.
If the camera shows damage, the sewer line repair page explains lining, bursting and trench options. For a documented record, say when buying or selling, the sewer inspection page covers a standalone camera visit.
We will not push repair if the pipe is sound. A cleaning every year or two may be all it needs.
Main line cleaning questions answered
Do you handle sewer line cleaning emergencies at night or on weekends in Herriman?
Yes, dispatch is open around the clock for backups. We send a licensed plumber when one is available and do not promise an arrival time. Call (385) 488-1892, tell us which drains are backing up, and follow the steps on this page while you wait.
How do I know if the backup is in my line or the city main?
Use JBID's test. Turn off all water use. If the backup stops, the problem is in your house plumbing or private lateral. If it continues with nothing running, call JBID at 801-571-1166, or 801-243-8492 after hours.
Where is my sewer cleanout?
Look along the foundation wall where the main drain leaves the house, in the basement or garage floor, or in a small lid in the yard. It is a capped pipe, usually 3 or 4 inches wide. If you cannot find it, tell dispatch.
How often should the main line be cleaned?
If there are no symptoms, it does not need scheduled cleaning. If you have roots, a pattern of backups, or a long older lateral, a camera inspection and an annual or biennial cleaning can be cheaper than an emergency.
Can flushable wipes really cause a sewer backup?
Yes. JBID lists them among items that cause backups despite the label. They do not break down like toilet paper and snag on roots, rough joints and other debris. Throw them in the trash instead.
Will cleaning the line fix tree roots?
It removes the roots in the pipe, but they typically regrow within one to three years. A long-term fix is lining or replacing the joint where they enter. The hydro jetting page explains what a root-cutting jet does.
What if the camera finds a broken pipe?
We show you the recording and the locate marks, then lay out repair options with trade-offs. You are not obligated to proceed, and we do not charge more for being honest about what we find.
Is sewer line cleaning the same as drain cleaning?
Related but different. Drain cleaning usually means a fixture or branch line. Sewer line cleaning means the main drain and lateral serving the whole house. Heavier equipment is used. The drain cleaning page covers smaller clogs.
Whole house backing up? Call (385) 488-1892 and a licensed plumber will head to your cleanout.
Call (385) 488-1892Sources and standards
The standards and local rules behind this service page are listed below. Rules and fees change, so read the current version before you rely on them.