Most homeowners never think about the drain system around their house until something goes wrong — because most of it is buried and out of sight. It includes storm lines, footer drains, drain tiles and, of course, sewer lines, and an inspection is the only way to know its actual condition before a problem shows up as a wet basement.
"Footer drains go around the perimeter of your home to carry away rainwater and water that bubbles up from the water table," explains Anthony Peto, founder of Northeast Ohio's Sewer Cleaning Company. "These drains often clog with debris, crack due to the freeze/thaw cycle, or become blocked by tree roots. That sends rainwater right into your basement, and you usually don't find out until it already has."
Older homes featuring terracotta drain tiles are particularly susceptible to these issues — the joints between sections are exactly where roots and debris get a foothold.
An inspection catches this before it becomes a flooded basement. It's a camera run down the line, start to finish, so you're looking at the actual condition of your pipe instead of guessing from symptoms.
Sewer Lines and Everyday Use
In addition to keeping rainwater out of your basement, it's important to keep "gray water"—that is, sewage waste water—out as well.
"Tree roots are the biggest culprit when it comes to clogged sewer lines," Anthony says. "If you have trees in your yard, you have to be especially diligent. A regular clean-out is a good idea to avoid a surprise back-up."
Many homeowners discover a clogged sewer line when the tub, shower, and toilet are getting extra use, including when family or guests are staying with you. A line that's already partially blocked often doesn't show symptoms until it's pushed past its limit — which is exactly when a holiday gathering or house full of guests becomes the worst possible time to find out.
Advanced Equipment
Sewer Cleaning Company uses a high-tech videoscoping system to discover in advance exactly what kind of clog you have—if you have one. Our technicians run a camera down your sewer and record a video of what's going on.
"It's like a colonoscopy for your pipes," Anthony says, "And once we have a 'diagnosis,' we know exactly the best method to clear the line."
Although we still use traditional snakes and cutter heads when they're the right tool, we specialize in clearing lines with today's leading-edge, high-pressure water jets designed to tackle different types of clogs.
"We have a powerful 4,000 psi, 9-gallons-per-minute water jet system with the capacity to clean up to an 8-inch commercial sanitary line, a small, 1.25-inch vanity drain line, and your storm lines," Anthony says. "Our hydro-jet technology flushes the entire pipe clean and doesn't leave a debris field like a traditional snake. Plus, older terracotta pipes were installed in two-foot sections without smooth joints, so things like baby wipes and feminine hygiene products—which should never be put in a toilet—can become trapped."
If the inspection shows roots or damage too severe for jetting to fix, we'll walk you through the options — including trenchless CIPP lining or, when it's truly necessary, full excavation. See our guide to our equipment and excavation process for how we handle the harder cases.