Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of your sewer lines? Here's how you can find out—for free.
Heavy rain, snow, and melting snow can combine to create a serious problem for home drain and sewer lines, causing an increased number of sewer backups and basement flooding — and it doesn't take much extra household usage to push an already-marginal line over the edge.
"People don't realize how much a full house changes the load on a sewer line," explains Anthony Peto, the founder of Northeast Ohio's Sewer Cleaning Company. "Kids or young adults home from school, extended family staying for a while, a full holiday house — it all adds up fast. It's like having a houseful of holiday guests 24/7."
And it's not just the toilet. "A lot of households send a surprising volume of grease and food waste down the garbage disposal," he warns. "It's a big problem waiting to happen."
Actually, the clogs aren't waiting. Sewer Cleaning Company's phone has been ringing off the hook with homeowners, apartment managers, and HOAs experiencing backups and those wanting to do the proper maintenance required to avoid them altogether.
"It's all about prevention," Anthony says. "Don't wait until you hear the basement toilet gurgling. If you suspect you have a problem—or you've had a problem in the past—go ahead and get your sewer lines checked out now."
Advanced Equipment
Sewer Cleaning Company has 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 high-pressure water jets designed to tackle different types of clogs.
"In addition to sewer lines, we also clear your storm lines," Anthony says. "Rain storms never come at a good time, so you need to be confident that your drains are clear. That includes the drain tile that takes the water away from your foundation, as well as your gutters and downspouts. It's all part of the same system."
Clean, Careful Service in Your Home
Our techs work around sewage and waste water every day, so cleanliness isn't an afterthought — it's baked into how the job gets done.
"We wear gloves and booties and minimize the surfaces we touch in your home," Anthony says. "Unless you have an outside cleanout, we do have to come inside, so we treat every visit like we're guests in your house, not just there to fix a problem and leave."
Tree Roots and Excavation
When it comes to clogged drains, here's one of the biggest culprits: tree roots.
"Roots are relentless," Anthony says. "They'll work their way into your sewer line through even the tiniest crack. They're attracted to the water in your lines."
Most of the time, what's in your sewer line can be cleared with hydro-jetting alone. But if roots have collapsed the pipe or it's too far gone, we handle full excavation and replacement too — see our guide to our equipment and excavation process for how that works.