Drains & sewer
One slow sink is a clog. Every drain gurgling at once is your main line — and in older Denver neighborhoods, that usually means roots in clay pipe.
- Water comes up in the basement floor drain when the washer drains
- Toilets gurgle or bubble when a sink runs
- More than one fixture is slow at the same time
- A sewer smell outside near the cleanout
How we handle it
Step 1
Clear it
Cable from the fixture or cleanout for everyday clogs. Hydro-jetting when grease or roots keep coming back.
Step 2
See it
Every main line clearing ends with a camera pass. You get the video and a footage map showing where the problem is and how deep.
Step 3
Fix it
Spot repairs where one joint has failed. Trenchless lining when the whole lateral is tired and the yard, driveway or tree is worth saving.
In Denver, the sewer line is yours to the street
The property owner is responsible for the sewer lateral all the way to the city main — including the part under the sidewalk and street. Homes built before the 1970s usually have clay, cast iron or Orangeburg pipe, and our expansive clay soils shift joints enough to let roots in.
See whose pipe is whoseTypical prices
- Clear one sink, tub or toilet clog$179–$299
- Clear the main sewer line (cable)$249–$449
- Hydro-jet the main line$495–$895
- Sewer camera inspection, with video$199–$349
- Sewer spot repair (excavate one section)$2,800–$6,500
- Trenchless sewer lining (CIPP), full lateral$7,500–$18,000
Typical ranges. Your price is confirmed on site before work starts. Full price book
Your sewer pipe depends on when the house was built.
| Built | Usual sewer pipe | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1950 | Clay tile or cast iron | Joints every 2–3 feet. Roots find them. |
| 1945–1972 | Orangeburg (tar paper) in some homes | Deforms and collapses with age. Replace, don't clear. |
| 1950s–1970s | Clay or cast iron | Cast iron scales and cracks from the inside. |
| 1975 and later | PVC or ABS plastic | Long runs, few joints. Sags from shifting soil are the usual issue. |
General guide — a camera inspection is the only way to know what's really there.
Straight answers
- Should I pour chemical drain cleaner in first?
- Please don't. It rarely clears a main line, it can damage older pipe, and it's dangerous for whoever opens the line next — including you.
- Do I need a camera inspection before buying a house?
- In any Denver home built before about 1980, yes. It's a few hundred dollars against a repair that can run five figures, and it's leverage in the negotiation.
- Will you dig up my whole yard?
- Usually not. Most laterals can be lined or burst from one or two small access pits.