The right tool for the right blockage
Roots, grease, and scale each require a different approach. A cable that snaps a root might just bounce off a grease plug. A hydro-jet that obliterates grease might not touch a fully-grown root mass. We carry both, and we run a camera first so we know what we're dealing with before we start cutting.
The result: blockages cleared the first time, with documentation of the actual condition of your line — so if something's about to fail, you find out now instead of next month at 2 AM.
Our process
- Camera scope first — high-resolution video down your main line to locate and identify the problem
- Method selection — hydro-jet, cable, or both, based on what the camera shows
- Clear the line — fully restore flow, not just punch a hole through the blockage
- Verify with camera — confirm the line is clear end-to-end
- Written report — including video clips and notes on any condition issues we observed
What causes sewer line blockages
- Tree roots — the #1 cause in older clay and Orangeburg lines
- Grease accumulation — cooking fats that solidify in cold pipe sections
- Scale & mineral buildup — common in cast iron lines
- Flushed wipes & foreign objects — "flushable" wipes are not actually flushable
- Pipe belly or sag — low spot where water and solids settle
- Broken or collapsed pipe — requires excavation or trenchless repair
Hydro-jetting vs. cabling
Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water (up to 4,000 PSI) to scour the inside of the pipe — best for grease, scale, sludge, and root mats. It cleans the pipe rather than just clearing a path.
Mechanical cabling uses a rotating cable with cutting heads — best for solid root masses and reaching deeper blockages where the jet won't penetrate.
For most residential lines we use both: cable first to break up the obstruction, jet second to clean the pipe walls. That's why our work tends to last — we're not just kicking the can down the road.