
Drain Cleaning
Slow, gurgling or backed-up drains in kitchens, bathrooms and basements.
Most Skokie sewer lines went in during the same postwar building boom, and many are now cracking, sagging or full of roots. We camera your line, show you exactly what's wrong and price the repair before any work. Our office is on Lincoln Avenue.

These go beyond an ordinary clog:
Roots keep finding the same broken joint.
Especially after heavy rain or a big load of laundry.
A crack or a dry, damaged trap can let odor in.
Soil falling into a break leaves a low spot.
Skokie grew from about 15,000 people in 1950 to nearly 60,000 in 1960. Nearly 2 in 3 homes here were built between 1940 and 1969.
Clay pipe from the postwar boom has joints every few feet, and decades of roots have pried many of them open.
Cast iron under the basement floor rusts from the inside and can crack along the bottom.
The trees that line Skokie's blocks are now big enough to send roots into every gap.
Many lines have been dug up and fixed in one spot already, leaving joints between different materials.
No guessing, and no digging we don't need.
Cleanout to main, with the footage of every crack and root mat.
Spot repair for one break, lining or replacement for a failing line.
Before anything is dug or lined.

Once we know what's wrong, there's usually more than one way to fix it. Which method makes sense depends on the pipe's condition, location, and how it failed.
| Method | What It Involves | Typical Disruption |
|---|---|---|
| Trenchless Pipe Lining | A resin-coated liner is pulled through the existing pipe and cured in place, creating a new pipe inside the old one. | Minimal digging, usually just small access points |
| Trenchless Pipe Bursting | A new pipe is pulled through the old one while a bursting head fractures the old pipe outward to make room. | Minimal digging, works even when the old pipe is badly damaged |
| Traditional Excavation (Spot Repair) | The damaged section is dug up and replaced directly. | More digging, but sometimes the only option depending on damage location and access |
Skokie laterals often run under a front walk, a parkway tree and the street curb. The footage shows us which repair keeps the disruption smallest.
4.7 stars from 5,669+ Google reviews across all J. Blanton locations.
"We initially called and Edgar came when we had flooding in our basement, and throughout multiple days of different issues being found, he talked us through each piece, explaining our options, and kept in close communication about the progress and everything that had come up. He helped clear our drain, then fixed some piping in the basement, put a liner in our pipes, and installed a sump pump, staying late to ensure we had working plumbing."
"Emmanuel, Gio, and Greg were a great team. Handled the job with complete professionalism and left confident the money was well spent with the right people. Fixed the sewer line using the best method and technology. Good interpersonal skills. Thank you."
"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."
Not always. The camera decides.
Not always. Some lines from that era need one section fixed, and others are failing end to end. A camera inspection shows which one you have.
Yes. They pry joints open and crack old clay.
Yes. Roots grow into small gaps, thicken over time and can pry joints apart or crack old clay. That's why they keep coming back after rodding.
Often, if the pipe still holds its shape.
Often. If the clay is cracked but still round, a trenchless liner can seal it from the inside without a long trench.
It depends on where the problem is.
Homeowners are usually responsible for the line from the house to the public sewer. We'll show you on camera where the problem is, so you know who handles it.
Often one or two days.
A spot repair is often done in a day. Larger jobs take a day or two.
It depends on the damage, depth and method. You'll approve a flat price first.
It depends on what the camera shows, how deep the pipe is, the repair method and what's above it. You'll approve a flat-rate price before any work.
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.


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

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

Running toilets, leaky faucets and new fixture installs for kitchens and bathrooms.

Leaking water lines, low pressure from old galvanized pipe and hidden leaks behind walls.

Sump pump repair, replacement and battery backups to keep your basement dry through heavy rain.

Burst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water, any time of day or night.
Our Skokie office is at 8001 Lincoln Ave, Suite 301, and our phone line is open 24/7.
We also serve Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Evanston, Wilmette, Glenview, Golf and more.