Sewer Line Repair in Riverdale, GA

How to tell it's the sewer line

• A toilet flush pushes water up into the tub or shower
• Bubbling in a toilet while the washer drains
• Drains in the kitchen and bathrooms all slow together
• Sewage odor outside, especially near the cleanout
• A blockage that's back weeks after it was cleared

Riverdale's setup

Riverdale is a western Clayton County city just south of Hartsfield-Jackson, founded as a railroad stop in 1886. Like every city in the county, it relies on the Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) for water, sewer and stormwater. CCWA's service line runs from the main to the meter on the water side, and the line from the meter to the house belongs to the customer; on the sewer side, the pipe leaving your foundation is likewise a private plumber's job. CCWA's number, 770-960-5200, is also the one it lists for after-hours sewer backups and large leaks.

The median Riverdale home was built around 1990, and roughly 33% are older than 1980. Those older homes are where cast iron and clay laterals turn up, with corrosion, cracked joints and root intrusion. Newer homes usually have PVC, where low spots from settling and damage from later digging are the more typical findings.

What changes the price

• Pipe depth and the length of the bad section
• What has to be moved or dug through: lawn, a driveway, a slab patio
• Whether the pipe can be lined or must be excavated
• Access through an existing cleanout, or adding one
• A City of Riverdale trade permit, which covers plumbing, electrical and mechanical work and is handled by the city's Building & Permitting Services

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Riverdale. Tell them which fixtures are affected, how long it's been going on, and whether the line has been cleared before. Hold off on laundry and showers until the visit. Most plumbers clear the line first, then send a camera down it to find the defect and confirm the pipe material and depth. If neighbors are having the same problem, call CCWA before the plumber arrives, since a blocked main is the authority's responsibility rather than yours.