When to Call a Sewer Repair Company in Philadelphia (or PWD)

In Philadelphia the property owner, not the City, owns the pipes from the house to the sewer main in the street: the house main drain, curb trap, vent, lateral and the connection to the main. So most sewer problems end with a licensed plumber, not a City crew. The exceptions matter, though. A backup during a storm or water running down the street can be PWD’s job. Here is how to tell which one to call.

Who to call, by symptom

What you see	Where the problem usually is	Call first
One sink, tub or toilet is slow; everything else drains fine	That fixture’s own branch pipe inside the house	A plumber or drain cleaner. Usually not a sewer line problem.
Several drains slow at once, or the basement floor drain gurgles when a toilet flushes	Main house drain, curb trap or lateral	A licensed plumber. Ask about a camera inspection.
Sewage coming up through the basement floor drain in dry weather, only in your house	Your house drain, curb trap or lateral	A licensed plumber, now. Stop running water until it is cleared.
Backup during heavy rain, or neighbors are backing up too	Possibly the City sewer main is overloaded	PWD Customer Hotline, (215) 685-6300, 24/7
Water running in the street or gutter, a sunken sidewalk square, a hole opening up	Could be a City main or your own water line or lateral	PWD Customer Hotline, (215) 685-6300
A clog that comes back weeks or months after the line was rodded	Roots, a cracked or separated joint, or a sag in the lateral	A licensed plumber with a sewer camera
A PWD Notice of Defect on your door	Your lateral, curb trap, house drain or water service line	A licensed plumber or PWD’s HELP loan line, (215) 685-4901. Check the deadline first.

The table is a rule of thumb, not a diagnosis. A plumber with a camera can tell you where a blockage actually is.

When PWD is the right call

PWD’s hotline at (215) 685-6300 takes calls 24/7 for water main breaks, neighborhood flooding and water in basements, and sends crews to investigate. Call PWD first when:

The backup lines up with heavy rain, or the whole block has it. About 60% of Philadelphia is served by combined sewers, which carry both sewage and stormwater and can surcharge in big storms. PWD’s free Basement Backup Protection Program exists for exactly this.
There is water in the street or the pavement is caving in. PWD’s Customer Guide asks residents to call the hotline right away. It also says that if the leak is traced to a broken customer service line or sewer lateral, the homeowner is responsible for the repair.
You think there is a problem with your lateral and want it checked. The Customer Guide says to call (215) 685-6300 to schedule an inspection. If PWD finds a problem, it may issue a Notice of Defect.

What PWD won’t do is fix your pipes. Its emergency page says it plainly: “A licensed plumber must do the work. PWD is not responsible for your plumbing.” About clogs caused by flushed wipes, PWD says: “you must hire a private licensed plumber to make repairs. We cannot unclog your pipes.”

Got a Notice of Defect? Read the deadline. PWD’s Customer Guide says a notice “describes the problem and provides up to 10 days for repairs,” and that in extreme cases PWD may shut off water service. The City’s Revenue Department adds that a copy of the notice is mailed within 20 days. Our Notice of Defect & HELP loan guide walks through your options.

Drain cleaning or sewer repair?

A drain cleaner rods or jets the line to clear a clog. That is often the right first step, and it is much cheaper than a repair. PlumbingPriceGuide’s March 2026 Philadelphia figures put drain or sewer rodding at $115–$345 and hydro jetting at $290–$920.

Ask for a camera inspection instead of, or right after, the cleaning when:

This is the second or third clog in a year
The cleaner pulled out roots. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation notes that roots normally get into a lateral only after the pipe has started to break down, so roots usually mean a crack or open joint.
Sewage came up in the basement
You are buying the house, or about to finish the basement

PlumbingPriceGuide lists camera inspections at $125–$500 in Philadelphia, and Costadia lists $100–$500 (June 2026). Ask for a copy of the video. If it shows broken pipe, that is when you need a sewer repair company, and when comparing quotes pays off. See sewer repair costs in Philadelphia for published repair ranges.

Before you hire anyone

The City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) says plumbers must hold a Philadelphia trade license, and that owners should check licenses, reputation and permits before work starts:

Look up the license. L&I’s contractor lookup tool lists actively licensed contractors and any licensing violations. Ask for the plumber’s license number and search it.
Get more than one bid and check references, as L&I recommends, citing the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s advice.
Make sure permits are pulled. L&I says contractors should have the required permits and post them on your property before they begin. Lateral work needs a PWD Sewer Connection Permit and an L&I Plumbing Permit, plus Streets Department permits for sidewalk or street openings. See permits.
Get the camera video and a written scope: what will be replaced, by what method, from where to where, and what concrete restoration is included.

If a contractor offers to skip permits, find another contractor.

Paying for it

Regular insurance probably won’t cover it. The City’s Revenue Department says homeowner’s or renter’s insurance “probably won’t cover plumbing defects,” and points to an optional water and sewer line protection program offered through the Philadelphia Energy Authority with American Water Resources, a private company. Sewage backup coverage is a separate question; check your policy for a backup endorsement.
PWD HELP loan. Zero-interest, repaid over 60 months on your water bill, with a lien on the property. You generally need a Notice of Defect to qualify. Details and eligibility.
PHDC Basic Systems Repair Program (BSRP). Free emergency repairs, including leaking or broken sewer lines and Water Department violations, for eligible owner-occupants of single-family homes who meet income limits ($85,900 for a one-person household and $122,700 for four, per PHDC’s current table). PHDC’s 2026 roadmap says the wait from application to eligibility appointment is about 6–9 months depending on priority, and sewage leaks count as high priority. Call 215-448-2160.
Basement Backup Protection Program. Free backwater valves for eligible homes where City sewer water backs up during rain. How it works.

Want a quote to compare?

If your problem is on the plumber side of the line, we can pass your request to an independent, licensed Philadelphia plumber who does sewer lateral work. It is free, and you are under no obligation. Request a quote

We are a free referral service, not a plumber. We connect you with an independent, licensed Philadelphia plumber who quotes and does the work. We may be paid by the plumbers we refer. Disclosure

Sources

Checked October 24, 2026. City programs and prices change; confirm with the source before you rely on them.

When to call a sewer repair company in Philadelphia (and when to call PWD)