In Apex, most homes are new enough that the drain pipe itself is rarely the problem, so clogs usually come from grease, hair, wipes or food scraps. A plumber can clear the line and, if a section has to be replaced, let you know about Apex's permit rules. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Apex.
Drains in a young town
Apex is one of the newest housing markets in the Triangle. Census survey data puts the median home at 2008, and fewer than 4% were built before 1980. Outside the historic railroad-era downtown, most homes have PVC or ABS drain lines that don't corrode or let roots through rusted joints.
That shifts where clogs come from. In Apex the usual causes are grease and disposal waste in the kitchen line, hair and soap in tubs, laundry lint, and wipes in toilets. Yard lines in new subdivisions can also settle after construction and leave a low spot that collects solids.
The Town of Apex owns the public sewer and treats wastewater at its Middle Creek facility and the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility it shares with Cary and Morrisville. One local detail is worth knowing: Apex requires a permit even for replacing a drain line with the same size pipe. Clearing a clog doesn't need one, but if the plumber finds a broken section, the repair goes through Apex Building Inspections and Permitting.
Fixture clog or main-line clog?
| Fixture clog | Main-line clog | |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | One sink, tub or toilet is slow | Several drains slow, lowest one backs up |
| Common cause in Apex | Hair, soap, food, a toy in the toilet | Wipes, grease, a settled yard line |
| How it's cleared | Hand auger or small cable through the fixture | Larger machine or jetter from a cleanout |
| What to do now | Use other fixtures | Stop running water in the house |
Signs to act on
- Water standing in the shower during use
- Kitchen sink filling when the dishwasher runs
- Gurgling from a toilet when a tub drains
- A laundry standpipe overflowing during the spin cycle
Seasonal notes
Holiday meals bring grease and food waste in late fall, and kitchen lines often clog right after. Houseguests mean more toilet use and more wipes. If you're hosting, a strainer in the sink and a trash can in each bathroom go a long way.
The exception to the new-pipe rule is downtown Apex, around the historic district, where the town's oldest houses stand. If you own one of those and a line keeps clogging, a camera inspection is a better use of money than repeated cabling, since original drains there may be cast iron or clay.
Drain Cleaning questions in Apex
Can a newer house still have drain problems?
Does drain cleaning need a permit?
Can flushable wipes really clog a pipe?
Why does kitchen grease cause so many clogs?
More plumbing services in Apex
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