Why a blocked line here starts with a question of ownership
Bedford Heights runs its own wastewater plant, the Robert Williford plant on Solon Road. City crews clear the public sanitary and storm sewers, and the city publishes a diagram of who is responsible for the sewer line on private property.
The city also says it helps free completely blocked house-to-street sewer lines. So when sewage backs up, the first job is to learn where the block sits. We run a camera to see how far from the house the problem is, and you decide whether to bring the city in.
Four steps when a drain backs up
Stop adding water
No laundry, no dishwasher, no flushing. Every gallon you add goes to the lowest opening in the house.
Note which drains are affected
A single slow sink is a branch problem. A basement drain and a tub gurgling together is a main line problem.
Call the 24/7 line
We send a plumber with a cable machine and a camera. Sewer line cleaning is the usual first step.
Check where the block sits
If the clog lies past your property line, we show you the footage so you can take it to the city.
Where a blockage sits and who usually clears it
| Where it sits | Who usually clears it | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| One fixture trap or branch. | You, with a plumber. | Auger or cable the branch, then test the flow. |
| The main inside the house. | You, with a plumber. | Cable the main, camera it if the clog returns. |
| House-to-street line on your property. | The owner. The city says it helps with completely blocked lines. | Camera and clear, then point you to the city's responsibility diagram. |
| Public sewer in the street. | City crews. | Confirm our section is clear and tell you to report the street main. |
Always check the city's Private Property Sewer Line Responsibility diagram for your address.
Backup in a Bedford Heights basement?
Call the 24/7 line and we send a cable machine and a camera. You hear the price before the work starts.
Prefab neighborhoods, 1960s houses and apartment blocks
Bedford Heights became a village in 1951, adopted its charter in 1958 and became a city in 1961. Kimberly Park, built in the 1950s, has about 250 prefabricated homes. Heather Hill holds about 125 homes, and The Ridge, or Ridge Estates, is another subdivision.
Survey data put the median year built at 1967, and about 40 percent of homes date from the 1960s. Only about 44 percent are owner-occupied, and the city lists apartment complexes built between 1959 and 1970. In a building that age, water heaters and valves are often at the end of their service lives, and stacks serve several units.
What we check in a 1960s house or apartment
Younger than a pre-war home, but a half century of use leaves its own set of problems.
- Water heater age and valvesCheck the temperature and pressure relief valve, the shutoff and the date on the tank. A heater from the building's early years is long past its service life.
- Supply line connectionsLook for green crust, drips under shutoffs and flexible connectors that have been in place for years.
- Drain slope and cleanoutsA line that holds water or lacks an accessible cleanout makes every clog harder to clear.
- Shared stacks in multi-unit buildingsA backup in the lowest unit may start in the stack. See hydro jetting when grease or scale has built up.
If you have a burst pipe or an active leak, do this first
Shut the main valve
Turn the valve where the water line enters the house or unit. In an apartment, ask the manager for the building shutoff.
Kill power near the water
In many houses the washer and panel sit low. Turn off breakers for any wet circuit from a dry spot.
Clear the area
Lift rugs, move boxes and open the cabinet under the leaking fixture so the plumber has a clear path.
Call the 24/7 line
Give the city, the street and the unit. Because 44146 is shared with neighboring towns, naming Bedford Heights avoids a wrong turn.
Around the clock coverage from Perkins Road to Solon Road
The line never closes
The 24/7 emergency line answers around the clock for sewer backups, burst pipes and failed pumps.
Sump pump failures
A pump that stops in a storm is an emergency. We repair or replace it, and sump pump repair covers the options.
Rental buildings
Tell us how many units share the line, and we plan the work so tenants lose water for as short a time as possible.
What the city publishes about sewers and permits
The wastewater plant is at 25301 Solon Rd. City crews clear the sanitary and storm sewers, and the Building Department at 5661 Perkins Rd handles permits. Inspections go through SAFEbuilt, which asks for 24 hours' notice, and the city lists a Plumbing and Sewer Installation form.
We could not find a published rule for water heater permits, so ask the Building Department before a replacement. We also did not confirm which utility supplies your water, so check your bill.
Source type: City websiteZIP 44146 is shared with three neighbors
Bedford Heights uses 44146 as its main ZIP, and City Hall's address carries it. Bedford, Walton Hills and Oakwood use the same ZIP. A secondary ZIP, 44128, also serves part of the city and is shared with Warrensville Heights and Garfield Heights.
Say the city name when you call. We also serve Bedford and Walton Hills for drain cleaning, sewer line repair and water heater service.
Work in Bedford Heights follows the Ohio Plumbing Code, OAC 4101:3, and the city's own rules on private sewer laterals apply to your property.
Bedford Heights on the map
Bedford Heights lies east of Maple Heights. City Hall and the Building Department are at 5661 Perkins Rd, and Reed Park, with its outdoor pool, runs off Eldridge Boulevard.
Perkins Road, Aurora Road, Northfield Road, Rockside Road, Libby Road and Richmond Road are among the roads we use to reach homes, apartment complexes and businesses here. The city sits near Tinkers Creek, and part of Bedford Reservation lies inside its borders.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. 44146 is the main ZIP, the one on City Hall's address on Perkins Rd, and it is shared with Bedford, Walton Hills and Oakwood. 44128 also serves part of the city and is shared with Warrensville Heights and Garfield Heights.
Yes. Our 24/7 line is answered around the clock, and sewer backups, burst pipes and flooding from a failed sump pump are all treated as emergencies.
The city publishes a diagram showing responsibility on private property, and it says it helps free completely blocked house-to-street lines. Check it for your address, and call us for a camera look.
Yes. The city lists apartment complexes built between 1959 and 1970. Tell us how many units share the stack or main, and we plan the repair around that.
The Building Department lists a Plumbing and Sewer Installation form and uses SAFEbuilt for inspections. Call the office to check the rule for your job.
Yes. We cover the whole city. Give the dispatcher your street and the nearest main road.