Kitchen sink backed up with food and standing water

Serving Dover, 17315

Clog Removal in Dover, PA

Basement drain pushing sewage up during a storm in Dover? The borough says storm water should never enter the sewer, and when it does, that is what backs up your lowest drain. Call now. A real person picks up 24/7.

(321) 497-8671

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

Storm water and Dover basements

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Bathtub with dirty water sitting over the drain

Basement backup

Sewage coming up the basement drain during a storm?

Why it happens in Dover

Dover Borough's home page says the borough is working to reduce inflow and infiltration, the rain and groundwater that gets into the sewer, and that no storm water should be entering the system. When too much rain gets in, the sewer fills, and the lowest drain in your house is where it comes out.

What to try, and when to call us

During a storm, stop using water and keep people away from the dirty water. Afterward, have the floor drain line cleared and ask the plumber to check for cracks and tied-in downspouts.

Source: Dover Borough

Bathroom sink draining clear after a clog is removed

Sump pump

Sump pump running into the laundry tub?

What causes it in Dover

Dover Township's sewer guidance says that in wet weather it only takes a few wrongly connected sump pumps to cause sanitary sewer backups into basements and streets. Many basements have a sump pump hose run into a laundry tub or floor drain because it was easy.

What you can do right now

A sump pump should discharge outside. If you're not sure where yours goes, ask the plumber to look while they're clearing a clog.

Source: Dover Township

Dirty water pooling around a basement floor drain

Kitchen line

Kitchen sink slow, basement toilet gurgling?

Why Dover homes see this

Census estimates put the median Dover home at 1974, with about 47% built from 1960 to 1979. In fifty-year-old drains, grease coats the kitchen line and roots creep into the lateral. A slow kitchen sink and a gurgling basement toilet together point to a clog in the main line.

When to stop and call

Plunging a sink won't fix that. The line needs to be snaked from the cleanout to the street.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Why drains back up in Dover

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

47%

of Dover homes built from 1960 to 1979

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

64%

of homes are detached houses

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

42.1 in

normal yearly precipitation at York Airport

Source: NOAA NCEI

9.3 days

heavy-rain days (1 inch or more) in a normal year

Source: NOAA NCEI

What to Do While You Wait in Dover

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