Sewage in the tub or floor drain: what to do before the plumber gets there
A failed sewer line is an emergency because the waste has nowhere to go but back into your house. The 24/7 emergency line at (855) 575-2890 is staffed at night and on weekends, and same-day appointments are offered when the schedule allows. These steps limit the damage in the meantime.
Stop all water use
No flushing, no dishwasher, no laundry. Every gallon you send down adds to what is already coming back up.
Keep people and pets out
Raw sewage carries bacteria. Keep children away from the wet area and wear rubber boots if you must cross it.
Cut power to wet rooms
If sewage reaches outlets, appliances or a basement panel, switch off that circuit at the breaker only if the floor around the panel is dry.
Do not pour chemical drain opener into a line that is already backed up. It sits in the pipe and burns the skin of whoever opens it next.
The pipe from your wall to the street is yours
The City of Mauldin runs its own Sewer Division inside Public Works. A City Public Works Committee agenda from October 2024 describes the city system as only the mainlines and manholes in street rights-of-way and utility easements, and says the lateral from the house to the main belongs to and is maintained by the property owner.
That changes your first call. If sewage is coming up inside the house, the broken piece is usually on your side of the connection, so a plumber is the right call before the city. If a manhole in the street is overflowing, that is the city's main, and Public Works answers at (864) 289-8904.
Repair, line or replace: how the options compare
The right fix depends on what the camera shows. The figures below are typical U.S. ranges, and the real number comes from a call after the pipe has been looked at.
| Option | Best for | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair (dig and patch) | One cracked or offset joint, pipe otherwise sound | $1,500 to $4,500 |
| Cured-in-place lining | Long cracks or root-prone clay pipe with no collapse | $80 to $250 per foot |
| Pipe bursting | Failed pipe on a straight run with room for pits | $60 to $200 per foot |
| Open-trench replacement | Collapsed, bellied or crushed pipe | $50 to $250 per foot |
Lining cannot fix a collapsed or sagging pipe. If water sits in a low spot on the camera, digging is the honest answer.
How a plumber finds the break
Guessing at a sewer line wastes money, so the work starts with a look inside the pipe.
- 1
Clear the line enough to see
A cable or a pass with a hydro jet removes the paste of grease and paper so the camera lens stays clean.
- 2
Run the camera
A push camera on a flexible rod travels toward the street and records cracks, roots, offsets and sags.
- 3
Locate the depth
A transmitter on the camera head lets the plumber trace the exact spot and depth from above ground.
- 4
Agree on the price
You get a clear price before work starts, and the video shows you why that method was chosen.
Signs the main line, not one drain, is failing
A single slow sink is usually a local clog. These point to the main line.
- Several fixtures back up together, such as a tub gurgling when the toilet flushes.
- The lowest drain in the house, often a basement floor drain, backs up first.
- Sewer smell in the yard or a soggy patch over the line path.
- Drains clear for a few days after snaking, then clog again.
If cleaning keeps failing, the problem is in the pipe wall. Cleaning the sewer line buys time but does not repair a crack.
Mauldin's growth and the age of the pipe under your yard
According to the City of Mauldin's own history page, the Mauldin depot dates to 1886, Greenville Water lines reached Laurens Road in 1953, and US 276 was built through the center of town in 1956. The city was reincorporated in 1957. Homes here went up across several decades, so laterals are not all the same age or material.
That matters when you choose a repair. Sewer pipe laid in the middle of the last century was often clay tile, cast iron or Orangeburg fiber pipe, and each fails in its own way. Ask the plumber to name the pipe material on the video before agreeing to lining.
Source type: City of Mauldin history page and Public Works Committee agenda.
What changes the price of a sewer line repair
Two homes with the same symptom can get very different quotes. These are the reasons.
Homeowner insurance usually does not cover a worn-out sewer pipe, though some policies cover sudden damage. Coverage varies by policy, so ask your carrier. Call (855) 575-2890 for a price based on your actual pipe.
Permits, licences and doing it right
The City of Mauldin Building and Zoning office, at 5 E. Butler Rd, says a permit is required before you add, alter or replace any plumbing system. Contractors must be licensed, bonded and insured and must hold the permit before they start.
Residential plumbers are licensed through the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission, and you can verify a licence on the state lookup. For street-side work, permit rules vary, so ask Building and Zoning at (864) 234-3475. Owners in Simpsonville follow their own city's process.
Sewer line repair questions from Mauldin homeowners
Yes. The emergency line at (855) 575-2890 is answered around the clock, and a plumber can be booked for the same day when the schedule allows. Stop using water, keep the area clear, and the dispatcher will tell you what to expect for your situation.
Based on an October 2024 City of Mauldin Public Works Committee agenda, the lateral from the house to the main belongs to the property owner. The city handles the mainline and manholes in the street right-of-way. A plumber can show on camera which side the failure is on.
A camera shows fine root hairs entering joints as white threads or a mass filling the pipe. Roots enter where the pipe already leaks. Cutting them clears the line, but the joint still needs repair.
The City of Mauldin says a permit is required before you add, alter or replace any plumbing system, and a licensed, bonded and insured contractor must hold it. For details on your address, call Building and Zoning at (864) 234-3475.
Yes. A pre-purchase scope shows cracks, roots and sags that a home inspection does not reach. The video also gives you a basis to negotiate the price of the house.