Hydro jetting in Clarkston is a plumber's method for cleaning a drain or sewer line with a high-pressure water nozzle that strips grease, scale and roots from the pipe wall. It's used when snaking only clears a line for a short while. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Clarkston.
Clarkston is a small inner-ring DeKalb city just outside I-285, and its housing is largely 1970s and 1980s apartments and homes. Census survey figures put about 53% of homes before 1980, with about 31% built in the 1970s alone. The city handles storm drains only; sewage problems go to DeKalb County.
What to do now
- Stop running water: no laundry, dishes or showers.
- Look at the lowest drains to see where water is standing.
- If sewage is coming from a manhole or neighbors have the same issue, call DeKalb County Water and Sewer at 770-621-7200, the number the city lists. DeKalb's 24-hour emergency repair line is 770-270-6243.
- If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager right away.
- Call the number on this page for a plumber.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Sink clogs again after snaking | Grease or scale left on old pipe |
| Lower unit backs up when upper units drain | Blockage in a shared building drain |
| Rust flakes on the cable | Corroded cast iron |
| Roots on the cable | Clay or cast iron joint letting roots in |
| Manhole overflowing | A problem in DeKalb's main |
Cost factors
- Access: a cleanout, toilet or vent
- Length of the building drain and lateral
- Heavy scale or roots versus grease
- Camera inspection on older pipe
- After-hours scheduling
Pipe from the 1970s is often cast iron, which rusts into a rough interior that catches grease and paper. That's why lines in older Clarkston buildings clog again soon after cabling, and why jetting, often with a camera look first, tends to hold longer. If the camera shows a broken section, Clarkston Planning & Development handles trade permits for plumbing work through its online portal. Cleaning alone doesn't need one.
In buildings where several units share one drain, grease from many kitchens builds up quickly. Scheduled jetting is far less disruptive than an emergency call when every unit backs up at once. If you're a renter, the building's owner is usually the one who arranges it, but knowing the signs helps you report problems early.
When you call the number on this page, an independent plumber who serves Clarkston will ask whether the home is a house or an apartment, which fixtures are affected and where the cleanout is. Stop running water until they arrive.
Hydro Jetting questions in Clarkston
Should I call the sewer utility or a plumber when sewage backs up?
Is high-pressure jetting safe for old cast iron or clay sewer pipe?
How often does a sewer lateral need to be jetted?
What does it mean when more than one drain backs up at the same time?
More plumbing services in Clarkston
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