Plumber running a drain snake into a sink line under the cabinet

Serving Carlton, 97111

Clog Removal in Carlton, OR

Lowest drain backing up in a wet Carlton winter? Rain seeps into the town's 1928 clay mains and into old laterals, and the clog shows up in your basement or bottom toilet. Call now. A real person picks up 24/7.

(321) 497-8671

Free to call. A real person picks up 24/7.

Carlton's 1928 clay main

Real people, 24/7Someone answers, day or night
Talk it throughDescribe the clog on the phone
No formsJust one phone call
Free to callNo fee to call this number

Plungers, pipe wrench and drain auger laid out on a bathroom floor

Winter backups

Floor drain or lowest toilet backing up in the wet season?

Why it happens in Carlton

Testimony to the Oregon Legislature says Carlton has nearly 16,000 feet of clay sewer pipe built in 1928 and 2,000 feet of 1950s cast iron force main. KPTV reported that federal funding cuts hit the planned upgrade. The Miller Woods station, about six miles away, gets about 57 inches a year, with about 16 days of an inch or more, nearly all in the wet season.

What to try, and when to call us

Old clay takes in groundwater at its joints, and when the mains run full, sewage looks for the lowest opening. During a storm, stop using water. Afterward, have your lateral checked, since a cracked one adds to the problem.

Source: Oregon Legislature

Bathtub with dirty water sitting over the drain

New house, old main

Newer house, but the drain still backs up?

What causes it in Carlton

Census estimates put the median Carlton home at 1996, with about 45% built in 2000 or later. Many newer laterals tie into a much older main. A clog in your PVC line is usually something flushed. A backup that only happens in storms points to the main.

What you can do right now

A plumber can cable your line from the cleanout and tell you which side of the property line the trouble is on. The city's number is (503) 852-7575.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Bathroom sink draining clear after a clog is removed

Bills

Toilet running on a $222 bill?

Why Carlton homes see this

The City of Carlton says the average water and sewer bill for residents is around $222.40, and sewer has a base charge plus a use component. A toilet that runs after a partial clog keeps adding to the use side.

When to stop and call

Check the flapper after plunging, and have a slow flush cleared before it turns into a backup.

Source: City of Carlton

Why drains back up in Carlton

The local numbers behind the problems above, each with its source.

16,000 ft

of clay sanitary sewer pipe built in 1928

Source: Oregon Legislature

5 mi

of gravity sewer mains, 6 to 15 inches wide

Source: City of Carlton

57.3 in

inches of precipitation in a normal year, Miller Woods station

Source: NOAA NCEI

15.6 days

yearly days of 1-inch-plus rain

Source: NOAA NCEI

What to Do While You Wait in Carlton

Skip the chemical drain cleaner. It can splash back and it can't clear a main line.

Stop running water if more than one drain is backing up.
Don't pour chemical cleaner into standing water. It can splash back when the plumber opens the line.
If you know where the cleanout is, clear the area around it.
Keep children and pets away from dirty water.

Service area