Backup safety steps: what to do right now
Sewage carries bacteria and parasites, so safety comes before cleanup. Run through this list while you wait.
- Stop all water use: no flushing, laundry or dishwasher
- Keep children, pets and anyone with health problems out of the area
- Do not pour chemical drain cleaner into a main line backup
- Wear rubber gloves and boots if you must enter the wet area
- Switch off power to any outlet or appliance sitting in standing water
- Photograph the damage before anything is moved
If neighbors have the same problem, the blockage may be in the City main. The City of Tavares lists an emergency sewer line on its Wastewater Division page, and a call to them at the same time is sensible.
What main line cleaning involves
A main line is the larger pipe, usually four inches across, that collects every drain in the house. It runs to the cleanout, a capped pipe in the yard, and then on to the street. We open the cleanout and feed in a powered cable with a cutting head, which bores through a clog and cuts roots at the walls.
When grease or heavy scale lines the pipe, a cable only makes a hole through it. A hydro jet follows with high-pressure water that scours the wall clean. Our hydro-jetting service explains that method, and it is often the better answer for a line that clogs again and again.
Sewage in the shower? Do not run any more water, call the line that never closes.
Call (855) 575-2890Cable or jet: which clears your line
| Situation | Cable (auger) | Hydro jet |
|---|---|---|
| Soft clog from paper or waste | Usually enough | Works, but more than needed |
| Roots in the line | Cuts roots, but they regrow | Cuts and flushes, and cleans the wall |
| Grease buildup | Punches a hole through | Removes the coating |
| Broken or collapsed pipe | Can catch or snag | Not suitable, and needs a camera first |
| Fragile older pipe | Can scrape the wall | Pressure is set to the pipe, or avoided |
Neither method repairs a broken pipe. If a line collapses or clogs again fast, the next step is a camera, then repair.
Where your cleanout is and why it matters
A cleanout is a capped pipe, often white or black plastic, in the yard near the house or by the foundation. Some homes have two, one at the house and one near the property line. If we can open one, the cable goes straight into the main without pulling a toilet.
If you cannot find one
Look along the side of the house where the bathrooms are, and near any outdoor faucet. Under heavy plants and old mulch, a cap can be hidden. If there is none, we can use a toilet or a roof vent, and adding a cleanout is a good fix for next time.
Storm drains and yard drains
Yard drains, downspout lines and storm drains run separately from the sanitary sewer. They fill with leaves, sand and roots, and they overflow in heavy rain. Cleaning them with a cable or jet restores the flow, and it keeps stormwater away from the foundation.
Never connect a storm drain to the sewer line. If you notice water from a yard drain running into a cleanout or toilet during storms, tell us, since a cross-connection or a damaged joint may be sending rainwater into the sewer.
Heavy rain, flooding and the sewer line
Central Florida can see record rain. In November 2025, Mount Dora lifted a precautionary boil water notice after record rainfall and localized flooding, a reminder that storms strain drains and sewers across Lake County. Water-logged soil and overloaded mains are a common reason a line backs up during or just after a big storm.
If your backup begins during heavy rain and neighbors report the same, the City main is the likely cause. If it is only your house, the problem is on your line. We serve Mount Dora, Eustis and Tavares, and we tell you which side the clog is on.
What affects the cost of cleaning a main line
A main line cleaning is priced by the situation, and we explain it before work starts. These factors matter most.
A cleanout in the yard makes the job quick. Pulling a toilet or using a roof vent adds labor.
A cable clears most clogs. A hydro jet is a larger machine and a longer job.
Longer runs to the street or a distant tank take more time and equipment.
A soft clog is quick, while a root mass or packed grease needs several passes.
If the line keeps clogging, a camera shows why, and that visit is priced separately.
Cleaning a clog is a maintenance job and is not usually covered. Damage from a sudden backup inside the home may be, so call your carrier, keep photos and save the plumber's invoice.
The fastest way to a real number is a call, because the price is explained before any work begins.
If the backup keeps coming back
A line that clogs again within weeks is telling you something. Roots, a sag in the pipe or a cracked joint can all trap waste. A sewer camera inspection shows which one it is, and if the pipe is damaged, repair is the lasting fix. Regular cleaning of a damaged line buys time, but does not solve it.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our line is staffed 24/7 for backups. Stop using water and call. A licensed plumber is dispatched as quickly as the schedule allows, and the price is stated before work begins. Same-day appointments are offered when available.
A drain clog affects one sink, tub or toilet. A main line clog affects several fixtures at once, often shows up first in the lowest drain, and may bring up sewage. The main line is bigger and needs a larger cable or jet.
We advise against it. Chemicals rarely clear a main line, and they leave harsh liquid sitting in the pipe that a plumber then has to work around. A cable or jet is the safer, more reliable approach.
Only when it needs it. A line with no history of problems may never need cleaning. A line with roots or grease buildup may need it every year or two, and repeated clogs mean a camera look is a better next step.
A cable or jet used with care on sound pipe does not damage it. Fragile or cracked pipe can be hurt, so on older lines we adjust the method or use a camera first. We tell you if we see a risk.
If only your home is affected, it is usually your line. If several houses on your street are backed up, the City main may be blocked. You can call both, since the City lists an emergency sewer line on its Wastewater Division page.
A blocked main does not clear itself, and every flush makes it worse.
Call (855) 575-2890Sources and standards
Where this page cites a local fact, it comes from a public City of Tavares page, another city's own web page or a published water quality report. Where a figure is not published, the page says so instead of guessing.
Plumbing work in Florida is governed by the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, which is the standard inspectors apply, and permit rules vary by city. The contact page explains how to reach us, and any plumber's license can be checked with the Verify a License tool at MyFloridaLicense.com.