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Cedar Rapids is Iowa's second-largest city, and it's a city of neighborhoods: New Bohemia, Czech Village, Kingston Village, Taylor, Time Check. Many of them are older, and many of them have a story about the Cedar River. A-1 Sewer Service comes up I-380 from our shop off Bay Ridge Ave on the south side of Iowa City, about 35 minutes depending on traffic, to clear drains, deal with sewer backups, replace sump pumps and install water heaters. Call (319) 600-4224 or use the contact form.
On June 13, 2008, the Cedar River crested at 31.12 feet. About 14 percent of the city went under, and nearly 7,200 properties were damaged. The hardest-hit areas were Time Check, Czech Village, Taylor, Kingston Village, Oak Hill Jackson and New Bohemia. The city bought more than a thousand damaged properties, and many of those lots are now greenway or have new buildings on them.
For anyone with a basement, the effect is practical. People here pay attention to water. Even when the river is low, a hard rain can overload older storm and sewer lines, and the basement floor drain is where it shows up first. We hear the same descriptions over and over: the drain bubbles during a storm, the toilet backs up when it pours, the sump pump runs without stopping.
A lot of Cedar Rapids houses were built before 1950, and the pipe connecting them to the street went in at the same time. It's clay tile or cast iron. Clay joints separate and let roots in. Iron rusts and scales over. Sections sag, and a sag holds water and waste in the pipe, which slows everything down. Add a rainstorm or a few years of grease and wipes, and the line gives out.
We clear the line and look at what comes out. We then tell you whether it was a one-time clog or whether the pipe itself looks like it needs attention. If the line is in bad shape, you'll hear that from us directly, with the options and what each costs.
If water has come into your basement before, a good sump pump and proper drainage is the first line of defense. We install and replace pumps, add check valves, run discharge lines away from the house, and extend downspouts that currently drop water at the wall. When a pump isn't enough, we'll go through waterproofing options for walls that keep leaking in the same place.
Here's a quick check you can do before the next storm. Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit. The pump should start, empty the pit and shut off. Then walk outside and look at where the discharge line ends. It should be well away from the foundation. Look at your downspouts, too. They should empty several feet from the wall. And if the pump is more than ten years old, it's worth replacing before it quits during a downpour.
Our regular work includes installing faucets, toilets, sinks and showers, repairing leaks, and replacing water heaters. Eastern Iowa has hard water, which shortens the life of a tank. A heater that rusts at the seams, leaks or won't keep up needs replacing, preferably before it floods your basement. We install tank and tankless units. The water heater installation page and the plumber page go into more detail.
We work throughout Cedar Rapids: New Bohemia, Czech Village, Kingston Village, Taylor, Time Check, Oak Hill Jackson, downtown, the older streets near Coe College and Kirkwood Community College, and the newer homes on the east and northeast sides. It's a big city, so tell us your address when you call and we'll confirm the schedule.
We also work in Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty and the Amana Colonies. The projects page shows finished work, and the drain cleaning page explains our drain cleaning.
Finished work from across Eastern Iowa. Drag the slider to compare.
“I’ve had a recurring issue for years with my floor drain backing up. Andy at A1 Sewer Services was the first one to do a more thorough inspection rather than just clearing out the line. He also discovered a crack in my clean out which I had him repair to prevent worse issues down the road. I highly recommend A1 for sewer and drain issues.”
“First time using A1 and I can’t say enough positive. Andy came within the hour that I called to unclog a basement floor drain. He was very thorough and checked to make sure the blockage was not coming from more than one area. He cleaned it out in a short time, got things moving and had good suggestions to help minimize future problems. Reasonable charges for good work and an honest pleasant person. Highly recommended.”
“Fantastic service! Called, told him the bottom of my water heater is leaking, sent him pics of everything and he was out the next day replacing it at a reasonable price! Highly recommend 👌 Thank you!”
It could be a partly blocked line, a system overloaded by heavy rain, or a drain tied into a line with a problem. Cleaning the line is the first step. It tells us what we're dealing with.
If it's past ten years old, yes. Pumps tend to fail during the worst storms.
Call (319) 600-4224 and we'll do our best to get there quickly.
Most of Cedar Rapids is about 35 minutes from our shop. The south end and downtown are closer, and the northeast side takes longer. Traffic on I-380 and the job we're finishing before yours both change the time, so we'll give you a realistic window when you call.
A backup or a wet basement won't clear up on its own. Call A-1 Sewer Service at (319) 600-4224 or send a message through the contact page, and we'll help you find the cause.
Drain cleaning and plumbing from our shop off Bay Ridge Ave on the south side of Iowa City.