Hydro jetting cleans a Selma sewer or drain line with high-pressure water that cuts roots and washes out scale and grease. With more than half of Selma's homes built before 1980, a camera check is often part of the job. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Selma.
Selma's sewer and homes
The Town of Selma runs its own sewer collection system, including 19 lift stations, and sends wastewater through a Johnston County interceptor to the county's central treatment plant. The town handles public mains; the lateral from a house to the main is the owner's. Selma's housing is older, with a median build year of 1974 and about 55% of homes before 1980. Many of those homes are in and around the Downtown Selma and West Selma historic districts, where clay and cast iron laterals are common. Roots and scale are the typical problems there.
What to do now
- Stop running water. Every flush or shower adds to a backup.
- See how widespread it is. One fixture or the whole house?
- Talk to a neighbor. If they're having trouble too, call the town about the main or a lift station.
- Find the cleanout. Clear a path for the plumber.
- Recall the history. Has the line had roots or repeat clogs before?
Reading the symptoms
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Toilet bubbles when the tub drains | Partial blockage in the main |
| Roots on a cable | Root intrusion at clay joints |
| Slow drains in an old cast iron house | Scale narrowing the pipe |
| Clog returns soon after snaking | Buildup left on the pipe wall |
| Street-wide backup | Public main or lift station issue |
Cost factors
- Access to the line
- Pipe material and condition
- Amount of roots or scale
- Camera inspection
- After-hours timing
On an older Selma home, expect the plumber to suggest a camera look before or after jetting. Clay and iron in good shape handle jetting well, but a cracked section can get worse under pressure, and the footage shows which you have. If roots keep returning, it also helps you weigh regular cleaning against a repair.
Because Selma's sewage moves through town lift stations, a power outage or pump failure can sometimes cause backups that have nothing to do with your own pipe. If drains act up during a storm or outage, check with the town before booking private work. Root clogs in older laterals, on the other hand, tend to build slowly and show up most in late summer and fall.
Hydro Jetting questions in Selma
Can older clay or cast iron pipe handle hydro jetting?
When sewage backs up, should I call the sewer utility or a plumber first?
Does jetting keep roots from growing back?
What happens if my sewer line has no cleanout?
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