Hydro Jetting in Lemon Grove, CA

Signs it's more than a sink clog

• The lowest drain in the house backs up first
• Toilets gurgle when the tub or washer drains
• Drains around the house slow down together
• Water rises from the outdoor cleanout during heavy use
• A line that was cleared recently is slow again

Lemon Grove's sewer and the lateral you own

Sewer service in Lemon Grove comes from the Lemon Grove Sanitation District, which the City runs. It maintains about 67 miles of collection pipe, and as a member of the Metro Wastewater JPA it sends flows to the San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater system for treatment. The District is clear on one point that matters for jetting: homeowners own the sewer lateral all the way to the main. Clearing it is private work, which means a plumber, not the District.

The exception is a spill or blockage in the public system. The District's office is at 619-825-3810 Monday through Thursday; after hours and Friday through Sunday, sewer spills go to Heartland Fire & Rescue Dispatch at 619-441-1621. If neighbors on your street are backing up too, make that call first.

Lemon Grove began as a citrus-growing town and grew into a suburban East County city, so you'll find older homes alongside later tracts. Older houses are more likely to have clay or cast iron laterals, where roots and scale are the usual causes, while newer plastic drains clog mostly from grease, wipes and soap. A camera look before jetting tells the plumber which situation they're in.

What changes the price

• Whether there's an outdoor cleanout or the plumber works through a toilet
• Length of the lateral out to the main
• Root mass versus grease or sludge
• A camera inspection before or after
• After-hours scheduling

Repairs found during the inspection may need a permit from the City of Lemon Grove Building Division, (619) 825-3800.

When you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent plumber who works in Lemon Grove. Mention which fixture backed up first and whether the line has been cleared before. Until they arrive, keep water use to a minimum and keep people and pets away from any overflow.