Plumber running a drain snake into a sink line under the cabinet

Serving Carlton, 97111

Clog Removal in Carlton, OR

Carlton still has nearly 16,000 feet of clay sewer main from 1928, and in a wet Willamette Valley winter, rain seeping into that old pipe can back up the lowest drain in your house. Toilet won't flush, kitchen sink backed up or water coming back out of a drain? Call and talk to a local plumber.

(555) 123-4567

Free to call. A licensed local plumber picks up and tells you the price before any work starts.

Carlton's 1928 clay main

Licensed local plumbersIndependent pros who work your area
Price before workYou hear the cost before they start
No formsOne phone call and a real person answers
Free to callNo fee to use this service

Carlton at a glance

What Shapes Clogs in Carlton

Local numbers that matter for drains here, each with its source.

16,000 ft

of clay sanitary sewer pipe built in 1928

Source: Oregon Legislature

5 mi

of gravity sewer mains, 6 to 15 inches wide

Source: City of Carlton

57.3 in

inches of precipitation in a normal year, Miller Woods station

Source: NOAA NCEI

15.6 days

yearly days of 1-inch-plus rain

Source: NOAA NCEI

Plungers, pipe wrench and drain auger laid out on a bathroom floor

Winter backups

Floor drain or lowest toilet backing up in the wet season?

Testimony to the Oregon Legislature says Carlton has nearly 16,000 feet of clay sewer pipe built in 1928 and 2,000 feet of 1950s cast iron force main. KPTV reported that federal funding cuts hit the planned upgrade. The Miller Woods station, about six miles away, gets about 57 inches a year, with about 16 days of an inch or more, nearly all in the wet season.

Old clay takes in groundwater at its joints, and when the mains run full, sewage looks for the lowest opening. During a storm, stop using water. Afterward, have your lateral checked, since a cracked one adds to the problem.

Source: Oregon Legislature

Bathtub with dirty water sitting over the drain

New house, old main

Newer house, but the drain still backs up?

Census estimates put the median Carlton home at 1996, with about 45% built in 2000 or later. Many newer laterals tie into a much older main. A clog in your PVC line is usually something flushed. A backup that only happens in storms points to the main.

A plumber can cable your line from the cleanout and tell you which side of the property line the trouble is on. The city's number is (503) 852-7575.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Bathroom sink draining clear after a clog is removed

Bills

Toilet running on a $222 bill?

The City of Carlton says the average water and sewer bill for residents is around $222.40, and sewer has a base charge plus a use component. A toilet that runs after a partial clog keeps adding to the use side.

Check the flapper after plunging, and have a slow flush cleared before it turns into a backup.

Source: City of Carlton

Before the Plumber Arrives in Carlton

Skip the chemical drain cleaner. It can splash back and it can't clear a main line.

Stop running water if more than one drain is backing up.
Don't pour chemical cleaner into standing water. It can splash back when the plumber opens the line.
If you know where the cleanout is, clear the area around it.
Keep children and pets away from dirty water.

Service area