Union City runs its own sewer collection system, so a problem in the city's lines goes to the Water & Sewer Division, while a clog in a home's drains is a plumbing job; the city says its crews don't work on private property. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Union City.
Is the sewer backup my problem or the city's?
Union City's Water & Sewer Division operates the city's wastewater collection system, about 91 miles of sewer lines plus lift stations. Its utility FAQ makes clear that Public Works can't work on private property and that customers should call a plumber for repairs on their side. In practice, if the backup is coming up through a tub, toilet or floor drain inside your home, the blockage is almost always in your own drains or the building sewer. If sewage is surfacing from a manhole or in the street, call the division at (770) 306-6855 during weekday business hours; the city's page doesn't list an after-hours number, so City Hall (770-964-2288) is the fallback.
Why do newer Union City homes still clog?
Union City is older as a city than it looks: it was incorporated in 1908 along the railroad, but most of its homes came with its growth into a bedroom community for metro Atlanta workers. Census survey data put the median home at 2002, with about 23% built before 1980. Newer houses have plastic drains that don't corrode, so clogs come from what goes in: grease and food in kitchen lines, hair in showers, and wipes or paper towels in toilets. Older homes near Union Street are more likely to have cast iron or clay that scales or lets roots in.
What should I try before calling?
- A plunger on a single toilet or sink
- Pulling hair out of a tub stopper or bathroom pop-up
- Clearing food from a disposal and running cold water
Stop there if several fixtures are slow, water rises at another drain, a toilet gurgles when the washer drains, or the same clog returns within weeks. Those point to the main line. Skip caustic chemical openers; they rarely clear a full clog and leave a hazard in the trap for whoever opens the line next.
Local note
Most drain clearing is service work with no paperwork. If a damaged section of pipe has to be replaced, Union City's Community Development office handles plumbing permits through its online iWorQ portal, and the plumber typically takes care of it.
Drain Cleaning questions in Union City
If every drain backs up at once, should I call the utility or a plumber first?
Why would a newer house have clogged drains?
Are wipes labeled flushable safe to flush?
Are store-bought chemical drain openers worth trying first?
More plumbing services in Union City
Drain Cleaning nearby
Sources
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