Inside its service area, the City of Austell maintains its own sewer collection system, while clogs in a home's fixtures and building sewer go to a plumber. Many Austell-mailing addresses outside that area are on Cobb County instead. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Austell.
Austell is a small south Cobb city that grew as a railroad depot town, and about 41% of its homes were built before 1980 (median 1993 in census survey data). The city's Sanitary Sewer Division maintains more than 51 miles of sewer, 700-plus manholes and two pump stations, with wastewater treated in Cobb County's system at the South Cobb plant. Austell's water service area covers only part of the Austell mailing area, so many homes with an Austell address in unincorporated Cobb are served by Cobb County. Austell also has a history of flooding along Sweetwater Creek, notably in 2009, which can stress low-lying sewer lines during heavy rain.
What to do now
- Stop running water. No flushing, showers or laundry until the line is clear.
- Check the scope. One fixture is a local clog. Several, or the lowest drain filling, means the main.
- Look outside. For city sewer trouble at a manhole or in the street, call the Water Division field office at (770) 944-4336; City Hall is (770) 944-4300.
- Find the cleanout. Often a capped pipe near the foundation; leave it closed under pressure.
- Protect the floor. Move belongings away from low drains, especially in a basement.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Basement floor drain takes on water during storms | Main line stress or a partial blockage |
| Rust flakes after a drain clears | Scale inside older cast iron |
| Kitchen sink slow for weeks | Grease buildup |
| Toilet gurgles when the washer drains | Partial main line clog or vent problem |
| Clog returns every summer | Roots in an older yard line |
Cost factors
- Where the blockage is and how far from an access point
- Whether there's a usable outdoor cleanout
- Cable, jetting or camera work
- Repairs if the line is cracked or root-packed
- Nights and weekends
Clearing is service work. Austell's plumbing permits cover installing, altering or replacing drain piping, so a line repair goes through the city's online permit portal.
When you call, you'll be connected with an independent plumber who covers Austell. Say whether your bill comes from the City of Austell or Cobb County, which fixture backed up first, and whether the problem showed up during heavy rain. That last detail helps separate a household clog from a line that's being overwhelmed.
Drain Cleaning questions in Austell
If every drain backs up at once, should I call the utility or a plumber first?
Why do drains in older homes clog more often?
Does a backwater valve help prevent sewer backups?
Does clearing a clogged drain require a permit?
More plumbing services in Austell
Drain Cleaning nearby
Sources
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