4 services · Indianapolis
Drains & sewer in Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis
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 in Indianapolis
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 Indianapolis: what's different
Clay laterals in older Indianapolis neighborhoods collect roots. Citizens Energy Group's DigIndy tunnels reduce combined sewer overflows, but older neighborhoods can still see backups.
A camera inspection shows the lateral's condition.
Mature trees in Broad Ripple, Irvington and Butler-Tarkington send roots into those joints, and a camera inspection shows whether cleaning, a liner or replacement is needed. Low areas near the White River and Fall Creek can also see backups during heavy rain.
Scoping before buying is common in older neighborhoods.
- Water and sewer in Indianapolis
- Citizens Energy Group provides water and wastewater service in Indianapolis.
- Permits in Indianapolis
- Plumbing permits are issued by the City of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services.
Indianapolis housing and plumbing
Irvington, Meridian-Kessler and Fountain Square have early 1900s homes with basements and older drains.
Other Indianapolis conditions that affect plumbing
- Sump pumps: Spring rain and high groundwater keep sump pumps busy.
- Frozen pipes: Cold snaps freeze pipes near exterior walls.
- Older laterals: Clay laterals in older neighborhoods collect roots.
- DigIndy tunnels: Citizens Energy Group's DigIndy tunnel system reduces combined sewer overflows, but older neighborhoods can still see backups in big storms.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Indianapolis and Marion County, including Broad Ripple, Irvington, Fountain Square, Meridian-Kessler, Butler-Tarkington, Lockerbie Square. ZIP codes: 46201 · 46202 · 46203 · 46204 · 46205 · 46206.
When to call a plumber in Indianapolis
- 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 Indianapolis
Do DigIndy tunnels stop basement backups?
Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?
More plumbing in Indianapolis
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