Dunwoody's sewer is part of DeKalb County's system, and with about 44% of homes built before 1980, many private laterals here are old enough to crack or fill with roots. A plumber repairs the pipe on your property, while DeKalb handles the public mains. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
Why Dunwoody sees so many lateral repairs
The 1970s were Dunwoody's big building decade, accounting for roughly 28% of homes, and the citywide median is about 1984. Houses from that era commonly have cast iron or clay running from the foundation toward the street, and four or five decades of tree growth in neighborhoods near Dunwoody Village and Georgetown give roots ample time to work into the joints. DeKalb County Watershed Management owns the public sewer, but the private pipe from your foundation is yours to maintain, and a backup that starts on your side of the line is a plumber's job. Many original laterals here have never been replaced, which is why camera footage of a Dunwoody line so often shows old joints, scale and roots at the same time.
What to do now
- Stop using water in the house until you know where the blockage is.
- If sewage has come up, keep children and pets out of the area and ventilate it.
- Ask a neighbor or two whether they're having trouble. A shared backup may be in DeKalb's main; report it to DeKalb Watershed's 24-hour emergency repair line at 770-270-6243.
- If it's only your house, find the cleanout, usually a capped pipe near the foundation.
- Call for a plumber, and note which fixture backed up first.
Symptom guide
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Lowest shower or floor drain fills when toilets flush | Blockage in the building sewer |
| Gurgling after the washer drains | Partial blockage downstream of the fixtures |
| Clog returns within weeks | Roots at a cracked joint, or a sag collecting debris |
| Wet, sinking patch over the pipe route | Broken or separated pipe leaking into the soil |
| Brown flakes or scale in cleared debris | Corroding cast iron |
Cost factors
- Pipe material and how much of it is damaged
- Depth, length and what lies above: lawn, drive, patio or trees
- Lining versus excavation
- Whether a cleanout must be added for access
- Dunwoody's single-trade component permit, which covers stand-alone plumbing repairs; work may not start until it's issued
Camera footage after the line is cleared is what turns this list into a real number for your house. Permits are available over the counter, online or by mail, and first-time contractors register with the city before pulling one.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Dunwoody
Sewage is coming up in a tub or floor drain. What should I do right away?
Does sewer line work need a permit here?
What is the sewer pipe under a house this age likely made of?
Is it better to fix one section or replace the whole lateral?
More plumbing services in Dunwoody
Sewer Line Repair nearby
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