Decatur has some of the oldest housing in the metro, and its old cast iron and clay drain lines are prone to scale and root clogs. DeKalb County handles the public sewer, while the drains serving each house are the owner's to keep clear. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Decatur.
Who do I call when sewage backs up in a Decatur home?
Start with where it's coming up. Inside the house, through a tub, floor drain or toilet, the blockage is almost always in your own drains or building sewer, and that's a plumber's call. If sewage is spilling from a manhole or the street, report it to DeKalb County Watershed's 24-hour emergency repair line, 770-270-6243. The City of Decatur's site sends water questions to DeKalb Watershed, and city records show DeKalb replacing sewer lines in Decatur, but the city also suggests contacting either the city or DeKalb for problems at the street.
Why are Decatur's drains so prone to clogs?
Age. Census survey data put the median Decatur home at 1975, with about 54% built before 1980 and roughly 23% built in 1939 or earlier. Historic close-in neighborhoods such as Oakhurst are full of houses whose drains are cast iron inside and clay or cast iron under the yard. Cast iron rusts and scales, leaving a rough interior that grabs grease and paper. Clay pipe comes in short sections, and every joint is a place for roots from the city's mature trees to get in. Many older homes also have additions and remodels where new plastic was tied into old pipe, and those transitions can catch debris.
Cable, jet or camera?
- Cable with a cutting head opens root-blocked clay lines quickly, but roots usually grow back.
- Water jetting scours scale and grease, but very deteriorated pipe should be looked at first.
- A camera inspection shows cracks, offsets and root entry points so you know whether cleaning is enough.
In a house this old, a plumber may recommend the camera before the jetter, and the footage is worth keeping for future reference or a home sale.
A local note on permits
Decatur requires separate trade permits for plumbing and sewer work regardless of the job's value, submitted through the city's online Community Core portal. That doesn't apply to clearing a clog, but it does apply when a cracked lateral is repaired or replaced. Addresses with a Decatur mailing name outside city limits are in unincorporated DeKalb, where the county handles permits.
Drain Cleaning questions in Decatur
Why do drains in older homes clog more often?
Can tree roots get into a sewer line?
Does clearing a clogged drain require a permit?
Should I have the line inspected with a camera after it's cleared?
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