
Sewer Repair
Cracked clay and cast iron sewer lines, roots and repeat backups under century-old homes.
A gangway that floods, a yard drain buried in leaves or a back patio that won't drain. We clean and repair catch basins and the lines behind them. Our office is on Ravenswood Avenue.


A catch basin is a small chamber under a grate. It collects water from a yard, gangway, patio or downspout and sends it into a drain line, while leaves and grit settle in the bottom. In older Chicago yards, many basins connect to the building sewer, so a clog can affect more than the yard.
Call when:
Water heads for the basement walls.
Every fall under old trees.
After every rain.
Old brick loses mortar.
Narrow lots and old trees make catch basins work hard here.
Runoff funnels straight to basement walls and stairwells.
They crack and settle.
Some older basins drain to the building sewer, so storms can back them up.
Basin and line.
Leaves and grit removed.
Water first, camera if needed.
Flat rate.

The narrow gangway between two buildings collects rain from two roofs and two walls. If the drain at the bottom is clogged, water has nowhere to go but toward the basement walls and stairwells. Leaves from parkway trees, sand and debris settle in these small basins quickly. A yearly cleaning, and a check that the outlet still drains, is one of the cheapest ways to keep water out of an older Ravenswood basement.
A cleaning is quick. Rebuilding an old brick basin or clearing a clogged outlet takes more. If the basin ties into the sewer, line work may be part of it. We look first and quote a flat price.
4.6 stars from 3,576 Google reviews for our Ravenswood office.
"Christian was super fast and friendly. Highly recommended. Have used J. Blanton in the past and their customer service is excellent."
"John was very professional and knowledgeable, he quickly helped us drain our flooded basement and left us feeling confident in the work he had done. Confidence is priceless when it comes to plumbing."
"We had Christian come for our home maintenance check and he was wonderful! I appreciated how thorough he was, that he provided me with feedback and notes for each potential issue he saw, and he even cleaned out a messy drain in my sink."
Once a year at least.
At least once a year, usually after the leaves fall.
Yes.
Yes. Water that pools by the building can come in through walls, window wells or stairwells.
Often.
Often. We rebuild walls and reset grates, or replace it.
Often.
Often, yes. It needs the same yearly cleaning.
Usually the owners agree.
It depends on whose property it's on. Often the two owners split it.
Yes.
Yes. These clog with leaves and flood the door when they do.
It depends on the job. You'll approve a flat price first.
It depends on whether it's a cleaning, a repair or line work. You'll approve a flat-rate price before we start.
Annual Protection Plan
Most plumbing problems start small. The No Drip Club brings a J. Blanton plumber to your home for regular maintenance, so small issues get caught before they turn into big repairs.


Cracked clay and cast iron sewer lines, roots and repeat backups under century-old homes.

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

Repair for frozen or burst pipes, from basement water lines to back porch spigots.

Water testing and filtration systems, from under-sink filters to whole-house units.

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

Repair and replacement for garbage disposals that jam, leak or just hum.

Burst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water, any time of day or night.
Our Ravenswood office is at 5126 N Ravenswood Ave, and our phone line is open 24/7.
We also serve Lincoln Square, Andersonville, Edgewater, North Center, Uptown, Albany Park, West Ridge and more.