
Sewer Repair
Tree roots, cracked pipe and repeat backups in the line from your house to the street.
If your basement drain backs up in wet weather, an overhead sewer system lifts basement wastewater above the level where backups happen. We install them in Algonquin homes from our office on Esplanade Drive.

It's worth considering if:
Then drains away once the rain stops.
No roots or sag, and it still happens.
Or plan to.
High water puts more load on the sewer.
An overhead system takes the basement off gravity drainage. The floor drain and basement fixtures drain into a sealed pit. An ejector pump lifts the water to a pipe near the ceiling, a check valve keeps it from falling back and it leaves the house above the level the sewer can reach. When the sewer surcharges, there's no low opening for water to come through.
Many Algonquin homes are newer, but a newer house can still have gravity basement drains.
Some homes from the 1990s and 2000s already have an ejector pit for a basement bathroom but still drain the floor drain by gravity. That floor drain is where storm water can come up.
When the Fox River is high, as in April 2013 and July 2017, more water gets into sewer systems.
More than half of Algonquin homes went up between 1990 and 2009, many with finished lower levels.
We camera your line before recommending a conversion. A sewer repair may be all you need.
Sump pumps, backflow valves and overhead sewers each stop a different kind of water:
| Sump Pump | Backflow Valve | Overhead Sewer System | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water it stops | Groundwater rising under and around the basement | Sewer water flowing backward into the drain | Sewer water rising through any basement drain in a storm |
| What's installed | A pit, a pump and a discharge line | A valve with a flap on the main line | A sealed pit, an ejector pump and new overhead piping |
| Good fit for | Homes near the river with high groundwater | Homes with a simple layout and occasional backups | Finished basements with repeat backups |
We'll tell you which ones your basement needs.
Every system starts with your line.
So you don't buy a system you don't need.
Pit, pump and piping placed carefully in finished space.
One price, tested before we leave.

4.7 stars from 5,669+ Google reviews across all J. Blanton locations.
"Thank you to Scott and Payton for coming by and helping us out. They identified a sewer pipe problem that was worse than what we were expecting, they provided a solution to the problem that will help in the long run and we have confidence that the solution will solve the problem and that we will not have to worry about it in the future"
"Scott was so helpful and easy to work with! He was so patient and thorough in explaining our options! And Walter loved him!"
"Mike P was super helpful and great at explaining the options we have for our sewer line."
Some do. Look for a sealed pit with a pump and a pipe going up.
Some do. If your basement has a sealed pit with a pump and a pipe running up toward the ceiling, you may already have one. We can confirm in one visit.
No. That's a sump pump's job.
No. It stops sewer backups. Groundwater needs a sump pump.
Yes.
Yes. It drains to the new pit along with the rest of the basement.
Usually a few days.
Usually a few days, depending on the layout and how finished the basement is.
It depends on your basement. The price comes first.
It depends on sewer depth, layout, fixtures and access. We quote a flat rate before we start.
Annual Protection Plan
Prevent catastrophes before they disrupt your life. The No Drip Club ensures your waste and sewer lines are monitored and serviced regularly by J. Blanton’s absolute best.


Tree roots, cracked pipe and repeat backups in the line from your house to the street.

Repair and replacement for tank and tankless water heaters that leak, make noise or run out of hot water too fast.

Slow, gurgling or backed-up drains in kitchens, bathrooms and basements.

Sump pump repair, replacement and battery backups to keep your basement dry when the Fox River runs high.

Water testing and filtration systems for homes on Algonquin's village well water.

Running toilets, leaky shower valves and new fixture installs.

Burst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water, any time of day or night.
Our Algonquin office is at 2390 Esplanade Dr, Suite 200F, and our phone line is open 24/7.
We also serve Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake, Cary, Huntley, Barrington Hills, Prairie Grove and more.