Drain cleaning in Zanesville's East End

What makes drain problems different in the East End

The East End is one of the parts of Zanesville where some homes do not drain to the sewer by gravity alone. The City of Zanesville says its Sewer Maintenance crews install and maintain more than 300 home grinder pump stations in the East End. A grinder pump sits in a small buried tank, grinds wastewater into a slurry and pumps it into a pressure sewer.

For homeowners, that adds a second possible cause to every backup. A slow drain might be an ordinary clog in the house plumbing, or it might be a grinder pump that has stopped working, lost power or tripped its alarm. The two problems look similar from inside the house but are handled very differently, so it is worth knowing which one you have before you call.

Not every East End home has a grinder pump. Many drain to gravity sewers like the rest of the city, with the usual mix of cast iron, clay and newer plastic laterals depending on when the house was built. Those homes face the same root, grease and joint problems described in the Zanesville drain cleaning homepage.

Hillside lots, retaining walls and long driveways are also common in parts of the East End, which can make access to the lateral harder and makes trenchless repair worth asking about when a line needs work.

Top services East End homeowners need

1. Telling a grinder pump problem from a clog

If your home has a grinder pump station, check its alarm first. An alarm or a pump that will not run is a pump issue, and the city says it maintains these stations. If the pump is quiet and only one fixture is slow, the problem is likely in the house drains.

2. Drain cleaning in the house

Kitchen grease, hair and wipes clog East End homes like any other. A drain cleaning clears fixture branch lines and the main inside the house. Grinder pump homes should be especially careful with wipes and grease, which are hard on pumps.

3. Main line and lateral cleaning for gravity homes

Homes on gravity sewers with older laterals can develop root clogs at joints, especially where trees are planted above the line.

4. Camera inspection and repair options

On sloped or hard-to-reach lots, a camera inspection pinpoints a problem so any repair is made in one place.

Caring for a grinder pump home

Grinder pumps handle normal household waste well, but they are mechanical and depend on power. A few habits help. Use water lightly during a power outage, because the pump cannot empty its tank without electricity. Keep wipes, paper towels, grease and hygiene products out of every drain, since they can jam the grinder or wear it faster. Do not plant over or build around the station lid, so it stays accessible for service.

If the alarm sounds, reduce water use right away and contact the city about the pump station. If the alarm is quiet and one fixture is slow, treat it like any other clog in the house plumbing.

Homes on gravity sewers in the East End have the same everyday issues as the rest of Zanesville. Mid-century houses often drain through cast iron or clay, and lots with large trees near the front walk tend to see root clogs return every year or two until the joint is repaired.

On sloped lots, the cleanout may be at a different level from the street, and laterals can be deeper on one side of the property than the other. Mention the slope on the phone so the provider brings enough cable and plans access.

An East End homeowner's checklist

• Find out whether your home has a grinder pump station; look for a small lid and alarm panel in the yard or on the house.
• Know where the alarm is and what it sounds like.
• Keep wipes, grease and hygiene products out of every drain, especially with a grinder pump.
• If the power goes out, limit water use, since a grinder pump cannot run without electricity.
• For gravity-sewer homes, locate the main cleanout and note any trees over the line.

Nearby areas

From the East End, downtown Zanesville and the Y-Bridge are a short drive west. Putnam, across the Muskingum River from downtown, has some of the oldest housing and laterals in the city, while the village of South Zanesville sits to the south. To the east along I-70 and US-40, places such as New Concord can call and ask about coverage. See all service areas.

East End drain and sewer FAQ