Sewer Cleaning Pros - frequently asked questions

Question 1

How do I know if my sewer line is blocked?

Accepted Answer

The usual signs are several drains backing up at once, gurgling from a toilet when a sink or washing machine drains, water rising in a shower when a toilet is flushed, or a sewage smell around a floor drain. A single slow sink is normally a local clog; when more than one fixture is affected the problem is usually in the main line.

Question 2

What causes most sewer line blockages?

Accepted Answer

Tree roots finding a joint or crack and growing into the pipe, grease that has cooled and hardened along the pipe wall, flushed wipes and hygiene products that do not break down, and in older Metro Detroit homes, clay or cast-iron pipe that has cracked, corroded or shifted with the ground.

Question 3

Do you use a camera to inspect the line?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A camera inspection shows exactly what is in the pipe and where, so the work addresses the actual problem rather than guessing. It also tells you whether the blockage is a one-off or a symptom of a damaged pipe that will keep recurring.

Question 4

What is the difference between snaking and hydro jetting?

Accepted Answer

A cable machine punches through a blockage and restores flow, which is often all that is needed. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the full diameter of the pipe, removing grease build-up and root hair from the walls. Jetting lasts longer where build-up is the underlying cause; snaking is quicker and cheaper for a single obstruction.

Question 5

Can a blocked sewer line be cleared without digging?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, yes. Cabling, hydro jetting and root cutting are all done through an existing cleanout. Excavation is only needed when the camera shows the pipe itself has collapsed, separated at a joint, or lost its grade.

Question 6

Do you offer emergency sewer service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An actively backing-up sewer is treated as an emergency because waste entering a basement is both a property and a health issue. Shut off water use in the house and call rather than continuing to run fixtures.

Question 7

How often should a sewer line be cleaned?

Accepted Answer

For a home with no history of problems, an inspection every few years is usually enough. Properties with mature trees over the line, older clay pipe, or a record of repeat backups benefit from scheduled cleaning, typically annually, because the underlying cause has not gone away.

Question 8

Which areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

Metro Detroit and the surrounding communities across Southeast Michigan.

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