Signs it's a clogged line
- Only one fixture, or one bathroom, is slow.
- The problem started suddenly after something went down the drain.
- The yard over the cesspool looks normal.
Signs the cesspool may be full
- Every drain in the house slows down at the same time.
- Backups get worse after laundry, long showers or heavy rain.
- Soggy ground, sewage odor or lush grass over the cesspool area.
The cleanout tells you a lot
Your main cleanout is a capped pipe where the drain line leaves the house, often in the basement or near the foundation outside. If a plumber opens it and finds standing water, the blockage is beyond that point: either the line to the cesspool or the cesspool itself. If it's dry, the clog is inside the house. Don't open a cleanout yourself if drains are backed up; it can release sewage.
What we do: we clear lines and tell you honestly if the cesspool is the problem. We don't pump cesspools, so if that's what you need, we'll say so and you can call a licensed cesspool company directly.