Sewer line services
Main line work from the building to the street or system.
Sewer service on Long Island
When the main line out of your building clogs, every fixture feels it. JET cleans, inspects and repairs sewer lines for Long Island homes and businesses, whether the pipe runs to a public sewer or a cesspool. Service is available 24/7.
Signs the problem is in your sewer line
One slow sink is usually a drain problem. When several fixtures act up together, the main line is the more likely cause.
Sewage coming back up
Wastewater rising in a floor drain, tub or lowest toilet means it has nowhere to go. Stop running water and call.
Several slow drains
When sinks, tubs and toilets all drain slowly at once, the restriction is usually in the shared line, not in each fixture.
Gurgling toilets
A toilet that bubbles when the washer drains or a shower runs is a common sign that air and water are fighting a blockage downstream.
Sewer odors
A sewage smell inside, or near where the line leaves the house, can point to a blocked, cracked or separated pipe.
Clogs that keep returning
If the line backs up again weeks after it was cleared, something such as roots, buildup or a damaged section is likely still there.
Sewer line cleaning and main line service
The building sewer carries everything from your fixtures to the street sewer or to your cesspool or septic system. Here is how JET handles it and what to know before you call.
What the main sewer line does
Every drain in a building feeds into one larger pipe, often called the main line or building sewer, that leaves through the foundation. On a sewered property it connects to the public sewer near the street. On a property with a cesspool or septic system, it runs to that system instead.
Because the whole building depends on that one pipe, a clog or break there affects every fixture, not just one. Suffolk County says nearly 70% of its homes use cesspools or septic systems, so on Long Island the line often ends in the yard rather than at the street. Sewered and unsewered properties alike can have main line trouble.
How JET cleans sewer lines
The right method depends on what is in the pipe. For many clogs, a cable machine cuts through the blockage and restores flow. For grease, scale, sludge and fine roots coating the pipe walls, sewer jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the line clean from the house toward the street or system.
When the cause is unclear or the line keeps clogging, a sewer line camera inspection shows what is inside before anyone decides on bigger work.
Repairs for damaged or blocked lines
Some lines need more than cleaning. Roots can enter through cracked joints, older pipe can sag or collapse, and sections can shift apart. When an inspection shows damage, JET explains what was found and the repair options for that section of pipe.
For a line that is fully stopped or keeps failing, see blocked sewer line repair.
Urgent and seasonal problems
Sewage in the house is not something to wait on. JET answers emergency sewer service calls 24/7 for backups, overflows and lines that have stopped draining.
Winter brings its own problem: a building sewer that runs through a cold crawl space or sits shallow under the yard can freeze. Our frozen sewer pipe repairs page covers what to do and what to avoid while you wait for help.
Who handles which part of the line
For homes in a Suffolk County sewer district, the county’s Department of Public Works advises calling a plumber when the blockage is inside the home. Problems beyond your property line, or sewage spilling from a manhole, go to the sewer district itself.
On a property with a cesspool or septic system, the pipe and the system are generally the owner’s to maintain. If the line is clear but the system is full, cesspool and septic pumping may be the actual fix. Not sure which you have? Call and we will help you work it out.
What to expect on a service call
A technician asks which fixtures are affected and when it started, finds an access point such as a cleanout, and clears the line with the method that suits the blockage. Once water is moving, the line is run to confirm it drains properly.
If the visit turns up roots, damage or a problem with the cesspool or septic system, you hear what was found and why before any next step.
Portable toilet rentals
JET also rents portable toilets for short and long stays: construction sites, renovations, parties, and large or small events. We deliver the units, service them while they’re in use, and pick them up when the job or event is over.
Call (631) 260-3640 with your dates, the location and roughly how many people will use them.
Need help right now?
Backups, odors, wet spots, clogged drains, and main line problems should not wait. JET responds 24/7 across Long Island.
Call 24/7: (631) 260-3640Related sewer and drain services
Sewer and drain problems often overlap. These pages go deeper on each one.
Drain services
For clogs in individual sinks, tubs, showers and floor drains.
Trusted by Long Island customers
115+Google reviews
4.7 average rating. Customers mention fair pricing, polite staff, and a professional team most often.
Read reviews on Google"We needed our cesspool emptied asap due to an overfill and Jack got here within the hour and did an awesome job and was very professional."
Lucas T., Google review
"…gave me all the details & pricing before dispatching the guys out to my house. Nothing was hidden."
Derick P., Google review
"…although they had to dig up the lawn to get to the cap, they did quite a neat job putting the pieces back like a jigsaw puzzle."
Andrew B., Google review
Sewer service FAQs
Don't see your question? Call (631) 260-3640.
How do I know if it's a sewer line problem or just a clogged drain?
If only one fixture is slow, it is usually that fixture's drain. If several fixtures back up together, or the lowest drain in the building overflows, the main sewer line is the likely cause.
Do you clean sewer lines that go to a cesspool or septic system?
Yes. JET cleans main lines whether they run to a public sewer or to a cesspool or septic system, and can also pump or service the system if that turns out to be the problem.
Is the sewer line my responsibility or the sewer district's?
In Suffolk County sewer districts, the county advises calling a plumber for blockages inside the home and contacting the district for problems beyond the property line or spills from a manhole.
Will you need to dig?
Most clogs are cleared through a cleanout without digging. Digging only comes up if an inspection shows a broken or collapsed section that has to be repaired.
Do you provide sewer service at night and on weekends?
Yes. JET provides 24/7 service for sewer backups and other urgent problems. Call (631) 260-3640.
Schedule sewer line service with JET
Backed-up main line, recurring clogs or a sewer smell you can't place? Call JET Cesspool Service at (631) 260-3640 for sewer service on Long Island, day or night.
(631) 260-3640Request a free estimate
For a backup or overflow happening now, call (631) 260-3640 instead.