Drain Cleaning in Lebanon County, PA: Sewer Backups, Roots & Costs
From the City of Lebanon to Palmyra, Myerstown and the townships, the line from your house to the street is usually yours to maintain. Call for a local drain pro who confirms the price before any work starts.
- Fast local help: call now
- Price confirmed before work starts
- Free call, no obligation
- Local Lebanon County drain pros
Sewage coming up?
- Stop running water and flushing toilets.
- Keep kids and pets away from the sewage.
- Call (888) 703-1520 and describe what you see.
Who do I call for a sewer backup in Lebanon County, PA?
If one sink or tub is slow, a plunger or hand snake is often enough. If sewage comes up a basement floor drain or several fixtures back up at once, the blockage is usually in the private sewer line between the house and the street, which Lebanon County property owners typically maintain. If neighbors are backing up too, call your municipality or sewer authority. If it’s only your house, call (888) 703-1520 for a local drain pro who confirms the price before starting.
Who runs the sewer system in your Lebanon County town?
Lebanon County has no single sewer utility. Each city, borough, township or authority runs its own system, so the right contact depends on where you live.
| Where you live | Who runs the public sewer | Your part |
|---|---|---|
| City of Lebanon | The City, with treatment at the City of Lebanon Authority plant | The lateral from the street connection to your house |
| Palmyra Borough | Palmyra Borough’s collection system and pump station | Your sanitary facilities and the connection to the lateral |
| Myerstown Borough | Myerstown Borough, which is replacing its main line interceptor | The private line to your house |
| North Lebanon Township | North Lebanon Township Municipal Authority | The private line to your house |
| Northern Lebanon County communities | Northern Lebanon County Authority, which is rehabilitating a sanitary sewer | The private line to your house |
If the problem is only in your home, a drain pro clears your line. If the whole street is backing up, call the municipality or authority listed on your sewer bill.
What makes Lebanon County drain problems different?
Limestone under the valley
Much of central Pennsylvania sits on limestone and dolomite, which slowly dissolves, so sinkholes are a fact of life here. In 2017, a sinkhole closed eastbound Route 422 near Palmyra, and the neighboring business owner suspected a water and sewer line in the easement. Leaking lines and shifting ground can crack old pipe.
Older towns, newer townships
The City of Lebanon and the older boroughs are full of pre-1950 homes with clay and cast-iron lines, while the townships around them have more post-war and newer houses. The age of your home tells a pro what kind of pipe to expect.
Systems being upgraded
Lebanon County sewer systems are actively being rebuilt. Recent state grants are paying to replace Myerstown’s main line interceptor, North Lebanon Township’s force mains and a Northern Lebanon County Authority sanitary sewer. Upgrades to the public side don’t fix the private line under your yard.
Are $49 or $99 drain cleaning deals real?
People in Lebanon search for “$49 drain cleaning” and “$99 drain cleaning” often enough that it’s worth answering. Those prices can be real, but they usually cover:
- One fixture, like a single sink or tub.
- An easy access point, such as an open cleanout or a removable drain.
- Regular business hours.
A main line, tree roots, a rusted cleanout, a camera inspection or a night or weekend call usually costs more. Ask exactly what the price includes before work starts. When you call (888) 703-1520, the local pro confirms the full price before starting.
Is it one drain or the main line?
| Sign | Likely cause | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Sewage coming up the basement floor drain | Main line blocked | 🔴 Call now |
| Several fixtures slow at once | Main line partly blocked | 🔴 Today |
| Sunken or soggy spot over the sewer line | Broken or leaking lateral | 🟠 This week |
| Same clog every few months | Roots or scale in an old line | 🟠 This week |
| One slow kitchen sink | Grease in the branch line | 🟢 Can wait |
Not sure? Call (888) 703-1520 and describe what you see.
How do drain pros clean out drains?
- Drain machine (cable): spins a steel cable through the pipe to cut and pull out the clog. It’s the usual first step.
- Hydro jetting: high-pressure water that scours grease, scale and roots off the pipe walls when a line keeps clogging.
- Sewer camera: a video check that shows roots, cracks, sags or ground movement, which matters on limestone ground.
Drain services Lebanon County homeowners call about
Main Sewer Line Cleaning
Roots, paper and scale cleared from the line between the house and the street.
Lebanon County Drain Cleaning FAQ
Who is responsible for the sewer line at a Lebanon County home?
In most Lebanon County municipalities, the property owner is responsible for the private sewer line between the house and the public main. In the City of Lebanon, for example, the code puts the lateral from the street sewer connection to the building on the property owner. The public mains belong to the city, borough, township or authority that runs your local system.
Are $49 or $99 drain cleaning deals real?
They can be, but read what they cover. Low advertised prices usually mean clearing one fixture through an easy access point during regular hours. A main line, tree roots, a hard-to-reach cleanout, a camera inspection or a night or weekend call usually costs more. Ask what is included before the work starts.
How much does it cost to clean out a drain line?
It depends on which line is clogged, how the technician reaches it, what caused the clog and when you call. A single sink is the simplest job; a root-filled main line or a jetting visit takes more time and equipment. A local pro confirms the price before any work starts.
How do plumbers clean out drains?
Most clogs are cleared with a drain machine that spins a steel cable through the pipe to cut and pull out the blockage. For grease, scale or roots that keep coming back, a hydro jetter scours the pipe wall with high-pressure water. A sewer camera shows whether the line is clear and whether it is cracked or sagging.
Can a leaking sewer line cause a sinkhole?
Much of central Pennsylvania sits on limestone and dolomite, rock that dissolves over time, which is why sinkholes are part of life in the Lebanon Valley. Water leaking from any buried pipe can wash soil into openings in that rock. If you notice a sunken spot over your sewer line, have the line checked with a camera.
Which Lebanon County towns do you cover?
Drain pros cover the City of Lebanon, Palmyra and communities across the county, including Annville, Cleona, Myerstown, Jonestown, Cornwall, Schaefferstown, Richland and North and South Lebanon Townships. Call to confirm your address.
Towns we cover in Lebanon County
See our local guides for drain cleaning in Lebanon, PA and drain cleaning in Palmyra. Drain pros also cover Annville, Cleona, Myerstown, Jonestown, Cornwall, Schaefferstown, Richland and North and South Lebanon Townships. Next door, see Dauphin County, Lancaster County and York County.
Sewage coming up in a Lebanon County basement? Do this now
- Stop every source of water: toilets, sinks, laundry and dishwasher.
- Keep kids and pets out, and wear gloves if you must touch anything.
- Skip chemical drain cleaners in a backed-up line.
- If neighbors are affected too, call your municipality or sewer authority.
- Call (888) 703-1520 to get your line cleared.
✓ Free call · ✓ Price before work · ✓ Fast local help
Last updated October 2026. Facts on this page are sourced below.
Sources
Drain Cleaning Prime is a free referral service that connects homeowners with independent local drain and sewer contractors. We don’t perform the work ourselves. Contractors are independent businesses, so confirm licensing, insurance and the price with your technician before any work begins.