4 services · Fresno
Drains & sewer in Fresno, CA
A single slow sink is usually a local clog a plumber can clear in one visit. Several drains backing up at once, gurgling toilets or water at a basement floor drain point to the main sewer line, which may need cleaning, a camera inspection and sometimes repair.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Drains & sewer services in Fresno
Drain cleaning
UrgentIf one fixture is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's branch line. If several drains back up at once, or the basement floor drain fills when you run the washer, the main sewer line is blocked and needs a larger cable or a jetter.
Hydro jetting
Hydro jetting cleans the full width of a drain pipe with high-pressure water, washing out grease, scale and fine roots that a cable only punches a hole through. It works best on sound pipe and is usually done after a camera inspection confirms the pipe can take it.
Sewer camera inspection
A sewer camera inspection runs a waterproof camera through the line from your house to the city main and records what it finds: roots, cracks, sags, offset joints or collapsed pipe. It's the best way to decide between cleaning, spot repair and replacement.
Sewer line repair
UrgentA damaged sewer line can be fixed with a spot repair, a trenchless liner, pipe bursting or an open-trench replacement. Which one fits depends on what the camera shows, how deep the pipe is, and what's on top of it, such as a driveway, trees or landscaping.
Local conditions
Drains & sewer in Fresno: what's different
Clay and cast-iron laterals in the Tower District and Fig Garden crack and collect roots from mature trees, causing repeat clogs in older homes. Hard water scale also narrows older drain lines.
The City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities provides wastewater service, and the lateral from the house to the main belongs to the owner. A camera inspection shows whether a recurring clog needs cleaning, lining or replacement.
Scoping before buying older homes is common in these neighborhoods.
- Water and sewer in Fresno
- The City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities provides water and wastewater service. Fresno installed water meters citywide around 2013.
- Permits in Fresno
- Plumbing permits are issued by the City of Fresno's Development and Resource Management Department.
Fresno housing and plumbing
The Tower District and Fig Garden have 1920s–1950s homes with galvanized supply and cast-iron or clay drains. North Fresno is largely 1970s and newer slab construction.
Other Fresno conditions that affect plumbing
- Hard water: Groundwater and surface water in Fresno leave scale in heaters and fixtures.
- Summer heat: Attic and garage water heaters sit in extreme heat, stressing tanks and relief valves.
- Galvanized pipe: Older homes still have galvanized supply that corrodes and loses pressure.
- Older laterals: Clay and cast-iron laterals in the Tower District and Fig Garden crack and collect roots from mature trees.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Fresno and Fresno County, including Tower District, Fig Garden, Woodward Park, Sunnyside, Downtown, Old Fig. ZIP codes: 93650 · 93701 · 93702 · 93703 · 93704 · 93705.
When to call a plumber in Fresno
- Water backing up in the tub or shower when a toilet flushes
- Several fixtures draining slowly at the same time
- Water or sewage at a basement floor drain
- Gurgling from drains or toilets
- Sewer smell inside or a soggy patch in the yard
- The same clog returning within weeks of being cleared
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the drains & sewer guide.
Drains & sewer questions in Fresno
Why do Tower District sewer lines clog?
Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?
More plumbing in Fresno
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