Sewer Backup or Groundwater? Who to Call in Akron

Water through the walls or floor. Seepage along the base of a wall, through a crack or up through the slab after rain is groundwater or surface water. The fixes are drainage outside, crack repair, interior drain tile and a sump pump.

Water from the floor drain. That is the sewer. Akron Water Reclamation Services tells residents to stop using fixtures that drain to the sewer and call the Utilities Dispatcher at (330) 375-2666. Sewer Maintenance checks the main in the street; its brochure says this service runs around the clock.

If the city main is fine. The brochure says the owner should hire a sewer cleaning contractor to clear the lateral, the pipe from the house to the main, and clean all of it. Under Ordinance 806-1992, the owner maintains the whole lateral.

If the lateral collapsed. For homes, the owner pays for structural repairs on private property and the city for repairs in the public right-of-way.

Preventing the next one. The brochure suggests regular lateral cleaning and offers free lateral inspections by appointment at the same number. A backwater valve can keep a surcharged sewer out of the basement. Check whether your policy covers sewer backup; the brochure notes it may need an addition.

Sewer smell, no water. The brochure says odors often come from dry P-traps or missing cleanout caps.