Drain Cleaning
Slow, gurgling or backed-up drains in kitchens, bathrooms and basements.
Serving Chicagoland Since 1993
Catch Basin Cleaning and Repair in Elgin, IL
Puddles that sit in the yard for days, a driveway that floods by the garage or a grate packed with leaves. We clean out catch basins, repair damaged ones and clear the line they drain into. From our office on North McLean Boulevard.
The Basics
What Does a Catch Basin Do?
A catch basin is a box set into the ground with a grate on top. It collects rain from your yard, driveway or downspouts and sends it to a storm sewer or drain line. The bottom of the box sits below the outlet pipe, so leaves and dirt settle there instead of washing into the pipe. When that bottom fills, debris goes into the outlet, the pipe clogs and water backs up onto the surface.
Signs Your Catch Basin Needs Service
Call when you see:
Water Pooling Around the Grate
If it's still there hours after the rain stops, the basin or outlet is blocked.
A Grate Buried in Leaves
Water can't get in. This happens fast in the fall on tree-lined Elgin streets.
Sinking Ground Next to the Basin
Soil is washing into cracks in the basin walls.
Water Running Toward the House
When the basin can't take it, water follows the slope, sometimes to your foundation.
Catch Basins in Elgin Yards
Elgin's older neighborhoods and its newer subdivisions both rely on catch basins, but for different reasons.
Mature Trees in Older Areas
Streets near downtown and along the river have big trees that bury grates every fall.
Driveway and Garage Drains
Many homes have a basin at the bottom of the driveway or by a detached garage. Sand and grit from winter wash into it every spring.
Old Brick Basins
Older basins built of brick or block crack and shift over decades, letting soil in.
Heavy Summer Storms
The July 2017 storms dropped more than 7 inches just south of Elgin. A blocked basin turns that much rain into standing water against the house.
The J. Blanton Difference773-724-9272
What Happens When You Call J. Blanton
We fix the basin and the pipe behind it.
1. Clean It Out
We remove silt, leaves and debris and clear the outlet.
2. Check the Line
If it still won't drain, we camera the outlet pipe.
3. Flat-Price Repairs
Cracked walls, broken grates or a collapsed pipe get a price before any work.
Customer Stories
Catch Basin Reviews
4.8 stars from 349 Google reviews for our Elgin office.
★★★★★
"J Blanton came in in short notice to complete a job that needed to be done right away. The technician was thorough, answered all of my questions, and recommended some preventative steps we could take going forward. Job well done!"
★★★★★
"Unbelievable service and knowledge! Took the time to break down the issue and explain in a way where I felt comfortable moving forward. The work was done with no issues and they even filled me in on some work that would be needed in the future. All of this, and I only called to schedule two days before!"
★★★★★
"George came and solved our problems right away. They are a full service plumbing company. It was a relief to know that our problem would be solved. He’s also great with dogs."
Got Questions?
Catch Basin Questions From Elgin Homeowners
At least once a year, ideally after the leaves fall.
At least once a year, ideally in late fall. If you have big trees nearby, a spring cleaning too keeps it ready for storm season.
The sump is full or the outlet pipe is blocked.
The bottom of the basin is probably full of silt, or the outlet pipe is clogged or broken. A cleaning and a camera look at the outlet will find it.
Usually not, if it's on your property and drains your yard.
If it's on your property and handles your yard or driveway, it's usually yours to maintain. Basins in city streets are usually the city's.
Yes, by sending surface water toward the foundation.
Yes. When a basin can't drain, water pools and soaks into the soil next to the house. That adds load to your sump pump and can find its way through the walls.
Sometimes. It depends on where the basin drains.
Sometimes. If the basin drains to a storm line with enough capacity, the sump discharge can connect to it. We'll check before tying them together.
It depends on what's needed. You get a flat price first.
It depends on whether it needs cleaning, a new grate, wall repair or work on the outlet pipe. We give you a flat-rate price before any work begins.
Annual Protection Plan
Join the No Drip Club
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.
- Two Free Professional Maintenance Visits per Year
- 10% Discount on All General Plumbing & Sewer Services
- 5-Year Parts and Labor Warranty on Approved Projects
- VIP Priority Scheduling Status (Skip the Queue)
What We Fix
Plumbing Services in Elgin
Learn More
Water Heaters
Repair and replacement for tank and tankless water heaters that leak, make noise or run out of hot water too fast.
Sewer Repair
Tree roots, cracked clay pipe and repeat backups in the line from your house to the street.
Garbage Disposals
Repair and replacement for garbage disposals that jam, leak or just hum.
Sump Pumps
Sump pump repair, replacement and battery backups to keep your basement dry through heavy rain.
Leak Repair
Hidden leaks behind walls and ceilings, drips under the sink and leaking water lines.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water, any time of day or night.
Local Office, 24/7 Phone
Ready for a Yard That Drains?
Our Elgin office is at 964 N McLean Blvd, and our phone line is open 24/7.
We also serve South Elgin, Bartlett, Gilberts, Hoffman Estates, Pingree Grove, Hampshire and more.
Need a Plumber?Call our Elgin Office
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