Drain Cleaning in Lombard, IL

A Village Known for Lilacia Park

Lombard's Lilacia Park and its annual lilac festival are a defining local landmark, and the historic homes near the park and downtown carry piping from the village's early-20th-century development.

Later suburban growth surrounding that historic core is on more modern branch lines, typical of DuPage County's mixed development eras.

A Historic Rail-Line Downtown

Lombard's downtown along the rail corridor anchors the village's older housing stock, while more recent development extends outward on newer piping.

The Lilac Village

Lombard was settled in the 1830s as Babcock's Grove and renamed in 1868 after Josiah Lombard, a Chicago banker who invested in the town. It grew as a commuter village on the Chicago and North Western line and incorporated in 1869. Lombard is known as the Lilac Village, thanks to Lilacia Park, created from the estate of Colonel William Plum, and its annual Lilac Time festival draws thousands each May. After the Second World War, Lombard grew into one of DuPage County's largest villages.

Housing ranges from early twentieth-century homes near downtown to postwar ranches, Cape Cods and split-levels and apartment and townhome communities. Plumbing ranges from century-old cast iron and clay to modern PVC. Sugar Creek, Salt Creek tributaries and clay soils shape drainage.

Older Homes Near Downtown

Homes near downtown and the Metra station have clay laterals nearing a century old under mature trees. Root intrusion is common, and a camera inspection shows the lateral's condition.

Postwar Neighborhoods

Postwar ranches and split-levels have clay laterals now fifty to seventy years old, and split-levels often rely on ejector pumps.

Storms and Flooding

Lombard has experienced basement flooding during major storms, and the village has invested in stormwater projects. Backwater valves and sump pumps with battery backups provide protection.

Buying in Lombard

Schedule a sewer camera inspection before closing and ask about flooding history and ejector pump age.

Drainage Notes for Lombard

Lombard, the Lilac Village, has older homes near its downtown and Lilacia Park and large postwar neighborhoods filling out the rest of the village. The older homes have cast iron stacks and clay laterals under mature trees, while postwar ranches and split-levels have laterals now fifty to seventy years old. Tributaries of Salt Creek and the East Branch of the DuPage River cross the village, and several low areas see storm water after heavy rain. Regular root maintenance and basement protection address most of the issues owners here face.

Lombard's calls vary by neighborhood age. Near downtown and Lilacia Park, older homes with clay laterals and cast iron stacks most often need root cutting and descaling. In the large postwar neighborhoods, sixty-year-old laterals are reaching the point where a camera inspection often shows cracked joints or offsets. Newer homes on the village's edges have PVC drains, where the most common calls involve sump pumps and grease or wipes in the main. Several low areas near Salt Creek tributaries see water after heavy storms, so owners there should consider a backwater valve before finishing a basement.

For year-round upkeep that applies to most homes (sump and ejector pump testing, winter care, kitchen habits and keeping service records), see the Drain Care Guide.

What Happens on a Service Visit

When a crew arrives at your Lombard home, they will start by asking which fixtures are affected and when the problem began, then locate the cleanout. For a main line clog, they feed a sectional cable machine from the cleanout toward the public sewer, using a cutting head sized to the pipe. Once flow is restored, they run water to confirm the line is draining normally.

If the same line has backed up before, or if the cable brings back roots, sand or pieces of pipe, the crew may recommend a camera inspection. The video shows the exact distance and depth of any defect, which is what you need to decide between routine maintenance, a spot repair or lining. Pricing is explained before any work begins, and you decide what to do next.

Protecting a Finished Basement

Finished lower levels are common in Lombard, and they are the most exposed part of the house when the main line clogs or the sewer surcharges during a storm. Protect that space with a backwater valve or overhead sewer, keep the floor drain uncovered so you can see early warning signs, and store photos, documents and electronics on shelves or in waterproof bins rather than on the floor. If a backup does happen, stop running water, keep children and pets away and call right away; the sooner the line is cleared, the smaller the cleanup.

Service in Lombard

Crews serving the west suburbs cover Lombard along with Glen Ellyn, Villa Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Glendale Heights and Downers Grove. When you call, share your address, the type of home and which fixtures are affected, and mention if you have a sump pump, ejector pump or backwater valve.

For main line clogs, the crew will rod from the most accessible cleanout. For older homes or recurring problems, a camera inspection is recommended. Pricing is confirmed on site before work begins.

Nearby Crews and Response

Crews working in Lombard also serve Glen Ellyn, Villa Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Glendale Heights and Downers Grove, so response times across the area are generally reasonable. When you call, share your nearest cross streets, any gate, alley or parking details and the easiest way to reach your cleanout. A few seconds of directions on the phone can save real time on arrival, especially during storms, when many calls come in at once.

Rodding, Jetting or Lining?

For most Lombard homes, a first-time main line clog is handled with cable rodding, which cuts through roots, paper and grease and restores flow quickly. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour grease, scale and sediment from pipe walls and is better for lines that clog again soon after rodding. Lining installs a new seamless pipe inside the old one and is the long-term fix for laterals with cracked, separated or root-damaged joints. A camera inspection tells you which of these fits your line, so you pay for the right repair instead of repeating the wrong one.

Coverage Area

Local crews in our network serve the Village of Lombard, including downtown and Lilacia Park, the neighborhoods along Sugar Creek and the subdivisions along Roosevelt Road, North Avenue, Main Street and Finley Road. Share your address and nearest cross streets when you call.

Lilac Time and Downtown Businesses

Each May, Lilac Time brings crowds to Lilacia Park and downtown Lombard. Restaurants along St. Charles Road and Main Street should maintain grease interceptors and schedule line cleaning before the festival season.

Frequently Asked Questions