Clogged Main Sewer Line in Greeley, CO

Water coming up through a floor drain, or more than one drain backing up at once? That usually means a clogged main sewer line in Greeley, not a single slow sink. Call SewerProof Greeley any time, day or night, to talk to a local sewer pro who can clear the main line and find out why it blocked.

Call (970) 771-0141What to do right now

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Sewage backing up now?

Stop running water and call. A local sewer pro answers 24/7 and will tell you what to do while help is on the way.

Call (970) 771-0141
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How do I know if my main sewer line is clogged?

If more than one drain backs up at the same time, or the lowest drain in the house fills when you flush or run the washer, the main sewer line is likely clogged. A single slow sink or tub is usually a local drain clog. This page is about the main line, the pipe that carries everything from your house to the City sewer.

One drain or the main sewer line?A simple check. If only one sink, tub or toilet is slow, it is likely a local drain clog. If several drains back up, or the lowest drains back up when you flush or run the washer, it is likely the main sewer line. If neighbors are backing up too, the problem may be in the City main.Water is backing upIs it only one sink, tub or toilet?Other drains work normallyYesLikely a localdrain clogNot the main lineNoDo the lowest drains back up whenyou flush or run the washer?Floor drain, basement tub or showerYesLikely the main sewer lineStop running waterand call a sewer proNeighbors too?May be theCity mainCall the City’s 24/7sewer line
  • Several drains at once Toilets, tubs and floor drains all slow down or back up together.
  • The lowest drain fills first A basement floor drain or shower is usually the lowest opening, so wastewater shows up there.
  • One fixture pushes into another Flushing a toilet makes the tub gurgle or fill, or the washer drains into the floor drain.

Check it yourself in five minutes

These simple tests help you tell a single drain from a main line problem before you call:

  • 1 Flush the lowest toilet. Watch the nearest tub or shower. If water rises there, the main line is likely blocked.
  • 2 Run the bathroom sink. If the tub or shower fills or gurgles, the problem is past that room.
  • 3 Watch the washer drain. A washer empties a lot of water fast. If a floor drain backs up during the cycle, think main line.
  • 4 Look at the cleanout, don’t open it. If water is standing at the cleanout cap or seeping around it, the clog is between there and the City sewer.

Stop as soon as you see water rising. Every extra flush adds more wastewater with nowhere to go.

Sewer backup in Greeley: what to do in the first 30 minutes

A backup is stressful. These steps keep it from getting worse while help is on the way:

  • 1 Stop all water use. No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Ask everyone in the house to hold off.
  • 2 Keep people and pets away. Sewage carries germs. Keep kids and pets out of the area.
  • 3 Stay clear of electrical outlets and cords near standing water.
  • 4 Check with a neighbor. If their home is backing up too, the problem may be in the City main.
  • 5 Call a sewer pro. Describe what’s backing up and where, and ask for the price before anyone comes out.
  • 6 Take photos of the water and any damage for your insurance claim.
  • 7 Move what you can off the floor, and wear gloves if you have to touch anything wet.

What not to do with a main sewer line clog

  • Don’t pour in chemicals Drain cleaners won’t reach a main line clog, can harm pipes, and splash back on whoever clears the line.
  • Don’t open a full cleanout If the cleanout is under pressure, sewage can spray out when the cap comes off. Let the pro open it.
  • Don’t keep flushing Each flush adds more water to a line that can’t drain. That pushes sewage out of the lowest drain.
  • Don’t force a hand snake A short store snake rarely reaches a main line clog and can get stuck in the pipe.
  • Don’t wait it out A backup won’t clear on its own. Waiting usually means more cleanup.
  • Don’t sign on the spot under pressure Get the price, ask what it covers, and ask what happens if the line backs up again.

Why does my toilet back up when I run the washing machine?

A washer drains a lot of water in a short time. When the main line is partly blocked, that water can’t get past the clog, so it rises out of the lowest opening, often a toilet, tub or floor drain. It’s one of the clearest signs of a main line clog in Greeley, CO, and a reason to stop doing laundry until the line is cleared.

Is it your line or the City’s?

The City of Greeley maintains the public sewer mains and pump stations. The sewer service line from your house to the main is the homeowner’s to maintain, so a blocked sewer line in Greeley on your side of the main is usually yours to clear.

  • Only your home is backing up The clog is most likely in your own service line. Call a sewer pro to clear it.
  • Neighbors are backing up too The problem may be in the City main. Call the City’s 24/7 sewer emergency line, listed on the City of Greeley website.

Not sure where the line is yours? Our homeowner section on who is responsible for the sewer line explains the split.

How the main line gets cleared

A sewer pro picks the tool based on what’s in the line:

Clogged main sewer line in Greeley: technician running a drain machine through a basement floor drain
A drain machine sends a cutting cable down the main line to open the clog.
  • Snaking (cabling) A machine-driven cable with a cutting head breaks through the clog and opens the line. Fast and the usual first step.
  • Hydro jetting High-pressure water scours grease, scale and root bits off the pipe walls. Good when the line keeps clogging.
  • Camera inspection A camera shows what caused the clog and where. Ask for one if the line has backed up more than once.

A good pro tells you which method they recommend and why, before they start.

Backed up right now?

Call any time, day or night. A local sewer pro can clear the main line and tell you what caused it.

Call (970) 771-0141

Why does the main line keep clogging?

If the line was cleared and backed up again a few weeks or months later, something in the pipe is catching waste. Snaking opens a path, but it doesn’t fix these:

  • Tree roots Roots grow in through cracks and joints, and grow back after they’re cut. See how to handle tree roots in a sewer line.
  • A belly (low spot) A sunken section holds water and waste. See how a sewer line belly is judged.
  • An offset joint Two pipe ends that shifted out of line give paper something to catch on.
  • A crack or break A damaged section snags waste. One bad section can often get a spot repair.
  • Grease and wipes Cooking grease hardens in the pipe, and “flushable” wipes don’t break down.
  • An old, worn line Pipe that is failing along its length may need a bigger fix.

Two clogs in a year is a good reason to ask for a camera inspection. It shows what’s catching the waste, so you fix the cause instead of paying for the same clearing again.

How much does it cost to unclog a main sewer line in Greeley?

Most main line clogs are cleared for a few hundred dollars. These are typical 2026 ranges:

Job

Typical 2026 range

Snaking the main line

$125 to $315

Hydro jetting

$300 to $600

Root removal

$125 to $1,250

Camera inspection

$175 to $350

What changes the price:

  • Access. A good cleanout makes the job faster.
  • How far the clog is. A long run to the street takes more cable.
  • What’s in the line. Roots and grease can take more work than paper.
  • Time of day. Night, weekend and holiday visits often cost more.

Ask before the visit: Is there a trip fee? What is the after-hours rate? Is the price on the phone the final price? What happens if it backs up again soon? Our repair cost page covers bigger fixes.

Can I unclog a main sewer line myself?

Sometimes, but it’s risky. Renting a large drain machine can work if you have an accessible cleanout and know how to run it. A short hand snake usually won’t reach the clog.

Machines can kink or get stuck in the pipe, and a cleanout under pressure can spray sewage. If wastewater is already in the house, calling a pro is usually faster and safer.

Does insurance cover a sewer backup?

Colorado’s Division of Insurance describes a water backup endorsement that covers damage to your home from a sewer or drain backup. It’s separate from a standard policy.

A service line endorsement is different: it can cover the damaged pipe itself. Check which one you have and call your agent soon after the backup.

How to prevent a main drain clog in Greeley

The City of Greeley’s rule for toilets is simple: flush only the three P’s, which are pee, poop and toilet paper. A few more habits help:

  • Put wipes, even “flushable” ones, in the trash
  • Let cooking grease cool and throw it out, don’t pour it down the sink
  • Keep hair, cotton swabs and hygiene products out of drains
  • If roots have clogged the line before, ask about a regular clearing schedule
  • Know where your cleanout is so a pro can reach it fast

Still backing up?

Call any time, day or night. A local sewer pro can clear the line and find out what keeps clogging it.

Call (970) 771-0141

Frequently asked questions

Several drains back up at once, or the lowest drain in the house fills when you flush a toilet or run the washer. A single slow sink is usually a local clog.

Stop using water, keep people and pets away, stay clear of outlets near the water, check whether neighbors are affected, and call a sewer pro.

The washer sends a lot of water into a line that’s partly blocked. The water can’t get past the clog, so it comes up the lowest drain.

It’s possible with a rental machine and an open cleanout, but it can be messy and risky. If sewage is already in the house, a pro is usually the faster fix.

Snaking the main line typically runs $125 to $315, and hydro jetting $300 to $600. Night and weekend visits can cost more, so ask first.

Yes. You can call any time, day or night, and talk to a local sewer pro about your backup.

Talk to a local pro about a clogged main sewer line in Greeley

Tell them what’s backing up and where, ask for the price before the visit, and ask about a camera check if it’s happened before. One call, any hour, gets you a local sewer pro who clears main lines in Greeley and nearby towns.

Call (970) 771-0141