Inspect
We use RIDGID sewer camera equipment to examine the line for blockages, roots, damage, offsets, standing water, and other visible conditions.
Maintenance
Preventative Sewer Maintenance
Preventative sewer maintenance is planned inspection and cleaning of a home’s drain and sewer line before buildup or an obstruction turns into a backup. A camera documents the visible condition of the accessible line, and cleaning removes accumulated material when it is appropriate.
- Camera inspection of the accessible line, with video and written findings
- Cleaning or hydro jetting when the line's condition and access support it
- Line locating as a separate service when a project calls for it
Service
Preventative Sewer Maintenance
Request preventative sewer maintenance
Tell us what you have noticed and what the line's history looks like.
Step 1 of 4
What is preventative sewer maintenance?
Preventative sewer maintenance is planned inspection and cleaning of a home's drain and sewer line before buildup or an obstruction causes a backup. A camera documents the visible condition of the accessible line. Cleaning removes accumulated material when it is appropriate. It is diagnostic and cleaning work, not repair.
Public utilities often call this "preventive maintenance." The idea is the same: look at the line and clear what has built up before it stops the flow.
It is not one fixed task. A visit can include a camera pass, cleaning, a second look, and locating, depending on the line and what was agreed.
Some lines have a reason to be maintained, such as root pressure, a section that collects buildup, or a history of backups. A line with no history of problems does not need a default schedule.
This service is designed for accessible residential sewer and drain lines. Equipment selection and available service depend on the entry point, pipe size, line condition, and scope of work. We provide cleaning, camera diagnostics, and line locating only. We do not provide sewer repair, replacement, lining, excavation, or pipe installation.
Signs it may be time
When planned maintenance is worth considering
These signs can point to a drain or sewer line issue. They do not prove a cause, and a camera look is how the line’s actual condition gets documented.
Several drains slow at the same time
Slow drains on more than one fixture, or one fixture affecting another, can point to a shared drain or sewer line rather than a single trap.
Gurgling or recurring clogs
Gurgling toilets and drains, or clogs that keep coming back after clearing, may mean something downstream is restricting flow.
A sewage-like odor that does not go away
Run water into unused sinks, showers, and floor drains first, because dry traps are a common cause of household sewer odors. An odor that persists is worth a closer look.
A backup that has already happened
A backup is a reason to look at the line, not only to clear it again.
Wet, spongy, or unusually green patches in the yard along the route of the line, or water showing at a cleanout
Known risk factors
Mature trees near the line, a history of buildup between cleanings, or a property where prior backups were cleared but never documented on camera.
What a camera can show, and what it cannot
A sewer camera is a visual tool. It documents what is visible in the section it reaches. It does not measure everything about a pipe.
A camera may document
- Roots entering the line
- Grease, sediment, and other deposits
- Obstructions and debris
- Visible cracks, offsets, and joint conditions
- Sags or low spots where water collects
- Standing water, and visible pipe connections
- A collapsed section, when the camera reaches it
A camera cannot confirm
- Conditions in sections it did not reach
- Anything below the waterline or behind debris
- The pipe’s exterior or the surrounding soil
- Every leak path, or how much is leaking
- Remaining pipe life or structural capacity
- Exact slope or grade
Cleaning does not repair these conditions. If the camera documents a visible finding that remains after cleaning, further evaluation may be appropriate outside our cleaning and diagnostic scope.
What a maintenance visit involves
The steps below describe the usual sequence. Access, line condition, and what was agreed for the visit shape what actually happens.
Step 1: Review the history
Prior backups, recurring clogs, earlier camera footage, and cleaning records help show whether the line has a pattern.
Step 2: Access the line
A cleanout is the usual entry point. Ask us about other access for your property.
Step 3: Inspect and record
The camera moves through the accessible section while the inspection is recorded. Anything that limits the view is noted.
Step 4: Clean when appropriate
If buildup or an obstruction is present, cleaning or hydro jetting may follow, based on the line's condition, access, and the agreed scope.
Step 5: Look again when needed
When cleaning was needed to get a view, a second look can document what was visible afterward, when included in the visit.
Step 6: Review the findings
You receive the inspection video and written findings, including what part of the line was viewed and what limited the view.
Useful to have ready
- A short history of backups, clogs, or odors
- Any earlier camera footage, reports, or cleaning records
- The location of your cleanout, if you know it
- Questions about access or what to expect, which you can ask when you request service
Camera first, or cleaning first?
Cleaning and camera inspection are separate services that can be combined. Which one comes first depends on what the line is doing.
A visit does not always include both. Ask what is included before you book.
When one may come first
- A camera may come first when the history is unclear, problems keep returning, or you want to see the line before a cleaning method is chosen.
- Cleaning may come first when a blockage keeps the camera from passing, or buildup covers the pipe so the view is not usable.
- Locating may come into it when a landscaping, renovation, or other project needs the route of the line.
Independent sewer inspection & second opinions
Before You Approve an Expensive Sewer Repair, Get an Opinion With Nothing to Sell
A sewer backup or major repair recommendation can make a costly decision feel urgent. The Sewer Pros inspects and documents the condition inside your sewer line so you can understand what is actually happening before you approve cleaning, excavation, lining, or replacement.
Because we do not perform sewer repairs or replacements, we do not profit from selling you the work. Our role is to inspect and document visible conditions, explain what we found in plain language, and give you an honest opinion you can use to make the next decision.
Get an Independent Second Opinion
Already received a repair recommendation? Bring us in for an independent second opinion before you sign off on major work.
Document
We inspect and document visible conditions inside the line, so you are not forced to rely only on a verbal repair recommendation.
Decide
Use the findings to determine whether the issue calls for cleaning, monitoring, a repair estimate, or another qualified opinion, without pressure to buy a repair from us.
Do not approve a major sewer repair based only on a sales-driven recommendation. The Sewer Pros does not repair or replace sewer lines, by design, so we have no repair contract to sell. Get a documented second opinion before you approve the expense.
What preventative maintenance may include
| Service | Primary purpose | May be the right fit when |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer camera inspection | Document the visible condition of the accessible line | History is unclear, symptoms have recurred, or you want a baseline before choosing a cleaning method |
| Sewer cleaning | Remove certain accessible buildup, roots, or debris | A camera look or the history points to a specific restriction |
| Hydro jetting | Pressurized water cleaning for certain accessible lines | The line's condition and access support it |
| Sewer line locating | Estimate where a point in the line sits from the surface | A project is planned and the route matters |
| Records | Keep video, findings, and service history for later | There are no symptoms now, but a documented baseline is useful |
These are building blocks, not a package. We can help work out which fit a specific line after looking at its condition and history.
What to ask for after a visit
Whoever does the work, the paperwork matters. These are worth asking for.
The inspection video
Included with our service.
Written findings
Included with our service.
What part of the line was viewed
And what limited the view, such as water, debris, or a blockage the camera could not pass.
What cleaning was done
And whether a second look was documented afterward.
Whether locating was done
If so, what was marked and what any depth reading means. A locate is an estimate, not a survey.
Keep your records
Keep the video, written findings, and scope of work together.
If a visible condition remains after cleaning, these records help when you get another opinion.
Before approving major sewer work, get the scope in writing and compare more than one written estimate.
Who this is for
Preventative maintenance on this page is for residential properties. Each group below uses the same evidence a little differently.
Home buyers and sellers
Documents the line's visible condition during a transaction.
Learn about pre-purchase sewer inspectionReal estate agents
Gives clients a clear record of what the camera did and did not show.
Learn about transaction supportHome inspectors
A sewer camera look is a separate service from a general home inspection.
Learn about coordinating an inspectionSmall residential landlords
Keeps a record of what was cleaned and when, when it applies.
Service areas
Preventative sewer maintenance service areas
Choose your market for local service details and scheduling options.
St. Louis, MO
Residential sewer inspection and cleaning across the St. Louis area.
San Diego, CA
Residential sewer inspection and cleaning in the San Diego area.
Las Vegas, NV
Residential sewer inspection and cleaning across the Las Vegas Valley.
What our customers say
4.9 out of 5from 595 Google reviews · as of
Questions
Preventative sewer maintenance questions
The basics
What is preventative sewer maintenance?
It is planned inspection and cleaning of a drain and sewer line before buildup or an obstruction causes a backup. A camera documents the visible condition of the accessible line, and cleaning removes accumulated material when it is appropriate. Some utilities call it preventive maintenance. It is diagnostic and cleaning work, not repair.
How often should I schedule it?
There is no single interval for every home. The useful frequency comes from the line: roots, pipe age and material, prior backups, how quickly buildup returned after cleaning, and how the line can be accessed. Some local utilities publish their own guidance, so it is worth checking yours. If an inspection does not support a recurring schedule, we will say so.
Do all homes need routine sewer cleaning?
No. A line with no history of problems does not need a default schedule. A line with recurring symptoms or a known buildup pattern may be a different case.
What the camera shows
What does a sewer camera inspection find?
A camera may document roots, deposits, obstructions, visible cracks, offsets, joint conditions, sags, standing water, pipe connections, and a collapsed section, when they are visible in the part of the line it reaches. What it can see depends on access, water, debris, and the pipe's layout.
What can a sewer camera not see?
It cannot confirm conditions in sections it did not reach, anything below the waterline, the pipe's exterior or the surrounding soil, every leak path, remaining pipe life, or structural capacity. A clean-draining line has not been shown to be structurally sound.
What happens if the camera cannot get through a blockage?
The view stops where the camera stops. Cleaning may be needed before the rest of the line can be viewed. The written findings note what was and was not reached.
Cleaning and hydro jetting
Is hydro jetting safe for my pipes?
It depends on the line. Hydro jetting uses pressurized water through a hose and nozzle to clean certain accessible lines. It is not right for every pipe, blockage, or visible defect, and it does not repair pipe damage. We look at the accessible condition of the line and may document a limitation instead of proceeding.
Should a camera inspection come before cleaning?
Sometimes. A camera can show the line before a cleaning method is chosen. In other cases a blockage has to be cleared before the camera can pass. They are separate services that can be combined, and a visit does not always include both.
Why do the same clogs keep coming back?
Roots, grease, and wipes labeled flushable are common contributors, and so are offsets, sags, and other pipe conditions. A camera can show what is visible. Chemical drain cleaners are not likely to clear a main-line backup, and some can damage pipe.
Access and signs
What is a sewer cleanout?
It is a capped access point on the drain or sewer line that lets equipment reach the pipe. Plumbing codes generally call for cleanout access, though local requirements vary and older homes can differ. Where yours is depends on the property.
Why are all my drains slow or gurgling?
Slow drains on several fixtures, gurgling, or one fixture affecting another can point to a drain or sewer line issue, but they do not prove a cause. If an odor is the main sign, run water into rarely used drains first, since dry traps are a common cause.
Records, timing, and cost
Do I get the video and written findings?
Yes. Inspection video and written findings are included with our service.
How long does it take?
There is no set time. It depends on access, how much of the line is viewed, bends, standing water, and whether cleaning or locating is part of the visit.
How much does it cost?
Scope drives the work. Access, the length and size of the line, its condition, and whether cleaning, video, written findings, or locating are included all change what a visit involves. Ask for the scope in writing.
Scope
Do you offer sewer repair or replacement?
No. We provide cleaning, camera diagnostics, and line locating only. We do not provide sewer repair, replacement, lining, excavation, or pipe installation. If the camera documents a visible condition that cleaning does not address, further evaluation may be appropriate outside our cleaning and diagnostic scope, and you will have the video and findings to take with you.
What should I ask for before approving major sewer work?
Get the scope in writing, compare more than one written estimate, and keep the inspection video and written findings. A second evaluator can review the actual video rather than a verbal summary.
Keep reading
Sewer Camera Inspection
See the visible condition of the accessible line.
Sewer Line Locating
Estimate where the line runs from the surface.
Pre-Purchase Sewer Inspection
Document the line before you buy.
Recurring Sewer Backup Diagnosis
Work out why backups keep returning.
Request service
Request preventative sewer maintenance
Tell us what you have noticed and what the line’s history looks like.
We will talk through access and what a visit would include for your property.
This service is designed for accessible residential sewer and drain lines. Equipment selection and available service depend on the entry point, pipe size, line condition, and scope of work. We provide cleaning, camera diagnostics, and line locating only. We do not provide sewer repair, replacement, lining, excavation, or pipe installation.
Request service
Step 1 of 4