Drain Cleaning & Sewer Questions
What causes drains to clog?
The most common causes that we see every day are:
- Flushable wipes (they’re not actually flushable)
- Grease and food buildup
- Hair and soap residue
- Tree roots
- Broken or offset pipes
- Sediment and scale buildup (typically in older cast iron pipes)
What’s the difference between snaking and jetting a drain?
Snaking (also called augering and sometimes cabling) uses a machine that spins a cable fed into the drain. Numerous different attachments or tips are used to break through the clog. Sometimes an attachment is needed to retrieve an item causing the clog, such as those “flushable” wipes. We can also attach a tip that can even cut through roots. Typically, a camera is also used to help determine what we’re dealing with and how to approach the clog.
Water jetting, also called hydro jetting, uses high-pressure water and numerous different tips (called nozzles) to unclog drains. Different nozzles are also used to completely clean the pipe walls, removing grease, sludge, roots, and buildup.
Jetting is more thorough and often recommended for recurring clogs, grease, or very long runs. Our hydro jet trucks carry up to 700 feet of hose.
When should I consider a sewer camera inspection?
- Repeated backups
- Slow drains throughout the building
- Root issues
- A recent home purchase
- A suspected pipe break
A camera inspection lets us see exactly what’s happening inside the pipe — no guessing.
Can you remove tree roots from sewer lines?
Yes. We specialize in cutting and removing roots using professional cutting tips on our mainline augers. Jetting uses special nozzles that can cut through even really big roots.
Will drain cleaning damage my pipes?
No—when done properly with the correct tools especially important is to have the correct size tools. We choose the right tips and nozzles for your pipe type, whether it’s cast iron, clay, PVC, or ABS. Our goal is to clean, not harm.
How often should drains be professionally cleaned?
It depends on several factors, mostly the age of the pipes and the amount and type of material going through them. But as a basic rule of thumb:
- Homes: every 1–2 years, mainly if you’ve had past root issues.
- Restaurants & kitchens: quarterly or semi-annually depending on how much grease enters your lines. Effective grease trap cleaning can dramatically reduce how often.
- Commercial facilities: scheduled preventative maintenance varies from monthly, quarterly, or annually. Our techs are pretty good at making a solid recommendation.
- Preventative cleaning is almost always cheaper than emergency service — you can budget and plan for it.
Questions: about our company
Do you offer 24/7 emergency service?
Yes. We provide 24/7 live phone support. And we have a live person, not an AI answering the phone. If you have a sewer backup, overflowing drain, or clog emergency, call us anytime—day, night, weekends, or holidays.
What areas do you service?
We proudly serve mainly the entire Twin Cities metro and surrounding communities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul and the inner and outer ring suburbs. BUT: We also, service out past Hudson, Albert Lea, Elk River and sometimes St. Cloud too. We're time and materials so we can literally go as far as you need us to.
Are your technicians licensed and insured?
Yes. Our technicians are fully trained, insured, and experienced in both residential and commercial drain and sewer systems. We don’t send “guessers”—we send professionals. Currently their isn’t a “license” to be a sewer cleaner, however, we do a comprehensive background check on all of our staff.
Do you give upfront pricing?
Yes. We are Time & Materials. The office staff works very hard to explain pricing and possible additional situations before dispatching a technician That office contact will also answer your questions, and keep things transparent. No surprise charges, no pressure tactics.
How quickly can you arrive?
We have 22 Technicians, so we can sometimes arrive the same day, and in a few cases within a couple of hours. Appointments are scheduled as quickly as possible. Full disclosure though, we do get busy and sometimes it may take longer.
Do you work with homeowners, businesses, and property managers?
Yes. No job is too small — or too large. We service:
- Malls, strip malls, and commercial buildings
- Apartment buildings
- Condominiums and townhomes
- Restaurants & commercial kitchens
- Hospitals, senior living, and other healthcare facilities
- Municipal & industrial sites
- Factories and warehouses
- Homes & multi-family homes
Vac Truck & Heavy-Duty Service Questions
What is a Vac Truck?
A vac truck is a powerful wet/dry vacuum system designed to safely remove large volumes of liquid, sludge, grease, sand, and debris from tanks, pits, lines, and structures. Basically, if it fits in the hose we can usually vacuum it up! Vac Trucks are perfect for moving material from hard to reach places.
What services do you provide with a vac truck?
We use vac trucks for:
- Grease trap cleaning
- Lift station cleaning
- Catch basin & storm drain cleaning
- Flooded basement and pit removal
- Industrial and municipal cleaning
- Tank depleting and cleaning
- Sewer and manhole cleaning
Do you clean all sizes of grease traps from massive below ground to smaller below sink models?
Yes. We clean grease traps of all sizes. We use a self-contained vacuum machine for restaurants, which dramatically cuts down on the smell. We also service commercial kitchens and even extremely large grease traps which can contain hundreds of gallons of grease with our Vac Trucks. We also can set up a regular maintenance schedule to stay compliant and help to avoid clogged drains.
Can you handle large or industrial jobs?
Absolutely. Our vac trucks and jetting equipment are designed for high-volume, heavy-duty work, including industrial sites, large facilities, and municipal systems.
What happens to the waste after it’s removed?
We can dump on site if you prefer. Otherwise, all waste is transported and disposed of properly and legally according to local and state regulations. We handle everything from start to finish. Once dumped we clean and sanitize the truck and equipment to be ready for the next job.
Prevention & Best Practices
What should NOT go down my drains?
These are the most common causes of clogged drains that we see:
- Cooking grease or oil of any kind
- Wipes (even if the package says “flushable”)
- Paper towels
- Feminine hygiene products
- Coffee grounds
- Food scraps (with the exception of through a disposal)
- Sand, dirt, or debris
Do you offer preventative maintenance programs?
Yes. We create custom maintenance plans for homes, restaurants, and commercial properties to reduce emergencies and extend the life of your plumbing system.
What’s the biggest mistake homeowners make with drains?
Waiting too long. Slow drains, water or bubbles coming up in the basement floor drains and gurgling sounds are early warning signs, addressing them early saves money and prevents messy backups.