The City of Austell maintains more than 51 miles of sanitary sewer, with wastewater treated in the Cobb County system, and about 41% of Austell homes were built before 1980. A sewer camera inspection films the drain line from your house to show roots, cracks, sags or blockages and where. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Austell.
Austell began as a healing-springs settlement and grew as a railroad depot town in south Cobb. The city's Sanitary Sewer Division maintains its collection system, more than 51 miles of sewer, over 700 manholes and two pump stations, and its field office is at 770-944-4336. The city's water page says wastewater flows to the county system for treatment at the South Cobb plant.
What to do now
- Cut water use. Hold off on laundry and dishes until the line is checked.
- Look for a pattern. Whole-house trouble means the main line; one fixture means its branch.
- Call the city for the public side. Sewage from a manhole or the street goes to the Sanitary Sewer Division.
- Find the cleanout. Older homes may not have one, which affects how the camera goes in.
- Book clearing and camera together. The footage shows the cause and where it is.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Backups after heavy rain | Cracks letting groundwater into the line |
| Recurring clogs every few months | Roots at a joint |
| Rough, narrowed pipe on video | Scale in older drain pipe |
| Standing water on video | A sag in the line |
| Toilet gurgles when the tub drains | Partial main line blockage |
Cost factors
- Cleanout access, or entry through a toilet or vent
- Whether clearing is needed first
- Length of the lateral and number of bends
- Locating defects and saving the recording
The median Austell home dates to 1993, but about 41% predate 1980, so jointed older pipe is common in the older parts of town. Austell also has a history of flooding, notably along Sweetwater Creek in 2009; if your backups seem to follow big storms, say so, since that pattern can point to a cracked line. Repairs need a city plumbing permit, which covers drain piping, applied for through Austell's online permit portal. Gas here comes from the Austell Gas System, which matters if digging is planned near a gas line.
When you call, you will be connected with an independent local plumber who serves Austell. Mention the age of the house, whether there is a cleanout, and whether backups line up with storms. Ask for a copy of the footage.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions in Austell
Who do I call if the backup seems to be in the public sewer?
Can the camera tell what my sewer pipe is made of?
Does a repair found on camera need a permit?
Would a sewer backwater valve help my house?
More plumbing services in Austell
Sewer Camera Inspection nearby
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