There are few plumbing problems more stressful or urgent than a main sewer line backup. When you notice multiple drains in your home are slow, hear gurgling sounds from your toilets, or see water backing up into your basement floor drain, you have a systemic problem that a simple plunger cannot fix. This is a disruptive, unsanitary emergency that threatens your home with water damage and requires immediate, professional attention.
A-Keveloh Plumbing Inc. is Wheaton’s first call for fast, effective sewer rodding. We are a family-owned company with over 40 years of experience, and we have the heavy-duty, professional-grade equipment to clear the toughest main line clogs and restore your plumbing to normal. If you’re experiencing signs of a sewer backup in your Wheaton home, don’t wait. Call our licensed plumbing team immediately at 630-963-0433.
Is It Your Main Sewer Line? Signs You Need Rodding
A clog in a single sink or shower is an isolated issue. A clog in your main sewer line, however, affects your entire home. It’s crucial to recognize the symptoms so you can call for the right service before a minor backup becomes a major flood.
- Multiple Drains Clogged at Once: The most common sign. Your toilets, showers, and sinks (especially on the lower floors) are all draining slowly.
- Water Backups in Low-Lying Drains: When you flush a toilet or run the washing machine, does water gurgle up or overflow from your basement floor drain or a first-floor shower? This is a classic symptom of a main line clog.
- Gurgling Noises: Strange gurgling or bubbling sounds from your drains or toilets are often a sign that air is being trapped and displaced by a blockage deep in the pipe.
- Unpleasant Odors: If you notice the smell of raw sewage in or around your home, it’s a clear indicator that the line is not clearing waste properly.
If you’re experiencing any of these issues, it’s time to call the sewer line cleaning professionals.
Our Professional Sewer Rodding Solution
Sewer rodding is a powerful, mechanical method used to clear major blockages from your main sewer line. It is far more powerful than a small hand-held drain snake. Our technicians use a heavy-duty, flexible steel cable, or “rod,” that is fed into your sewer line through an access point (cleanout). This rod is equipped with specialized, spinning cutting heads at its tip.
As the machine feeds the rod down the pipe, the rotating head is designed to break apart, cut through, and clear out the toughest obstructions. This process effectively restores flow to your sewer system. We are highly effective at clearing all common causes of sewer backups in Wheaton homes.
What Causes Major Sewer Clogs?
- Tree Root Intrusion: This is the number one cause. Wheaton is known for its beautiful, mature trees. Their roots naturally seek out the moisture and nutrients in your sewer line, invading through tiny cracks or joints and creating a dense, web-like blockage. Our rodding equipment has cutting heads specifically designed to tear through tree root intrusion.
- Grease and Sludge: Years of accumulated kitchen grease, soap scum, and other waste can congeal and harden inside the pipes, shrinking the diameter and catching other debris.
- “Flushable” Wipes & Foreign Objects: Despite their marketing, so-called “flushable” wipes do not break down like toilet paper. They snag on roots or rough pipe edges and build up over time, creating a severe clog.
- Pipe Misalignment or Damage: In some older homes, pipes may have settled, sagged (“bellied”), or cracked, creating an area that chronically catches waste and leads to recurring backups.
Why Wheaton Trusts A-Keveloh for Sewer Rodding
When your sewer is backing up, you need a team you can trust to fix the problem correctly and respectfully. As a family-owned business serving Wheaton since 1976, we treat your emergency as our own.
- Professional-Grade Equipment: We don’t use small, underpowered rental machines. We invest in powerful, commercial-grade rodding equipment capable of clearing the most severe blockages.
- Licensed, Experienced Plumbers: Operating a power rodder effectively takes skill. Our licensed plumbers are trained to “feel” the clog, identify the type of obstruction, and use the right technique to clear it without damaging your pipes.
*Fast, Responsive Emergency Service: We understand this can’t wait. We prioritize sewer backup calls to get your home’s plumbing functional and safe as quickly as possible.
- Honest Diagnosis: We get the line open. But we also give you an honest assessment. If we believe the clog is from tree roots and likely to return, we’ll tell you, allowing you to plan for the future.
Beyond the Clog: Sewer Camera Inspections
Sewer rodding clears the *symptom*—the clog. A sewer camera inspection finds the *cause*. After your line is clear, we highly recommend this diagnostic service. We feed a high-resolution, waterproof camera into your sewer line to visually inspect its entire length, from your home to the city main.
This inspection will show us exactly what caused the clog (roots, grease, a sag, or a crack) and its precise location. This valuable information allows you to make an informed decision about long-term solutions, such as preventative maintenance or a targeted pipe repair, saving you from the stress and expense of future emergency backups. You can learn more about non-flushable items from authorities like the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).
Don’t let a sewer backup flood your basement. If you see the warning signs, the time to act is now. Call the A-Keveloh Plumbing Inc. team at 630-963-0433 for immediate sewer rodding in Wheaton, IL, or schedule your service online.
Sewer Line FAQs for Wheaton Homeowners
What’s the difference between sewer rodding and hydro jetting?
Sewer rodding is a mechanical process that uses a spinning cutter to break apart solid obstructions, making it highly effective for tree roots. Hydro jetting uses extremely high-pressure water to blast away softer, built-up blockages like grease, soap scum, and sludge, thoroughly cleaning the pipe walls. We can assess your situation and recommend the most effective method.
How can I prevent my sewer line from clogging again?
Never pour grease or oil down your kitchen drain. Do not flush anything other than toilet paper—this includes “flushable” wipes, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products. If you have recurring issues with tree roots, we may recommend a preventative rodding or camera inspection schedule (e.g., every 1-2 years) to catch the problem before it causes a backup.
Does a sewer clog mean I need to replace my entire sewer line?
Absolutely not. This is a common fear, but it’s rarely the case. The vast majority of sewer backups are caused by clogs that can be effectively cleared with professional rodding. A full replacement is a last resort, reserved for pipes that have collapsed or are severely damaged. A camera inspection is the only way to know for sure, and we are committed to providing you with an honest, transparent assessment.
