Wendell's water and sewer have been handled by Raleigh Water since the 2006 merger. Raleigh owns the public sewer; the drains in your home and the private line out to it are yours, and a plumber can clear them. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Wendell.
Who do I call: Raleigh Water or a plumber?
Wendell is one of six communities that merged their utilities with Raleigh, and the Town says water and sewer service in Wendell is handled by the City of Raleigh. If a manhole is overflowing or several homes are backing up, that's Raleigh Water's problem. If it's only your house, the clog is in your drains or the private line, and that's a plumber's job.
Do new homes in Wendell Falls get clogs too?
They do. About half of Wendell's homes have been built since 2010, many in the Wendell Falls planned community. Those homes have plastic drain lines that won't rust, but they still clog from grease and food waste in kitchen lines, hair in showers, and wipes in toilets. New yard lines can also settle and leave a low spot that holds waste. In a new house, the cause of a clog is usually what went down the drain, not the pipe.
Laundry is another frequent cause in busy households. Lint and fabric fibers collect in the standpipe and the line beyond it, and a lint trap on the washer's discharge hose catches most of it. If your house is only a year or two old, check whether the builder's warranty covers drain problems before paying for a repair.
What about older homes near downtown?
Census survey data puts about 22% of Wendell homes before 1980, mostly around the Wendell Commercial Historic District and the older streets near Wendell Boulevard. Drain lines in those homes may be cast iron or clay. Cast iron corrodes inside and catches debris; clay joints can separate and let roots in. If a drain in an older Wendell home clogs again soon after it's cleared, a camera inspection can show whether the pipe is the problem.
Some homes outside the Raleigh Water service area may not be on municipal sewer. A plumber can still clear the line from the house to a private system.
Permits
Routine drain clearing doesn't need a permit. If pipe has to be replaced, Wendell residents apply through the Town, and Wake County Permits and Inspections handles the permitting and inspection.
Drain Cleaning questions in Wendell
Can a newer house still have drain problems?
How can I tell whether a backup is in my pipes or the public sewer?
Is it safe to pour a store-bought drain opener in first?
What is a sewer cleanout, and why does the plumber ask about it?
More plumbing services in Wendell
Drain Cleaning nearby
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Sources
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