Maintaining your main sewer line means periodically inspecting it with a camera, clearing any buildup or root intrusion before it becomes a blockage, and addressing minor structural issues while they are still minor. Most homeowners never think about their sewer line until something goes wrong — but for Front Range homes with aging clay or cast iron lines, or mature trees anywhere near the lateral, a proactive maintenance approach can prevent the kind of complete backup or line collapse that requires emergency excavation. Done recommends most homeowners inspect their main sewer line every two to three years, and more frequently if roots have been found before.

Sewer Camera Inspection: The Starting Point

Every maintenance visit begins with a sewer camera inspection. A waterproof camera attached to a flexible cable is fed through a cleanout or toilet and run the length of the pipe to the municipal connection. The technician watches a live video feed that shows the pipe’s interior condition: root intrusion, grease coating, calcified buildup, corrosion, cracks, offset joints, and any bellies (low spots where solids accumulate). The camera locates the exact depth and position of any problem areas using a transmitter, which the technician can pinpoint from the surface with a locator wand. You receive a clear picture — literally — of what your line looks like and what, if anything, needs to be done.

Cleaning the Line

If the inspection reveals buildup, roots, or grease accumulation, the appropriate cleaning method is chosen based on what the camera shows. Cable auger (snake) cleaning breaks up soft blockages and light root masses. Hydro jetting — blasting water at pressures up to 4,000 PSI — is far more thorough: it scours the pipe walls clean of grease, scale, and mineral deposits, and cuts through heavier root masses. Jetting leaves the line in significantly better condition than snaking alone and is typically recommended when the camera shows a heavy coating on the pipe walls or recurring root growth. At Denver’s altitude, Denver’s hard water means mineral scale is a common finding — jetting addresses that buildup that snaking cannot touch.

Addressing Structural Issues Early

Camera inspections sometimes reveal more than just buildup. Cracked pipe sections, offset joints from soil movement, and small root intrusion points can often be addressed with trenchless pipe lining (CIPP) before they progress to a full collapse. Lining involves inserting a resin-saturated liner into the existing pipe and curing it in place, creating a new structural pipe within the old one — no excavation required. Catching these issues during a routine maintenance inspection rather than during an emergency backup is significantly less disruptive and expensive. Colorado’s clay soils mean ground movement happens every year; catching the resulting joint shifts early is exactly what preventive maintenance is for.

What a Maintenance Visit Typically Includes

  • Camera inspection of the full lateral from cleanout to municipal main
  • Written or video report of pipe condition with any problem locations documented
  • Line cleaning via cable auger or hydro jetting as needed
  • Root treatment with foam herbicide if root intrusion is present and contained
  • Repair recommendations for any cracks, offsets, or bellies found

How Often Should You Schedule Sewer Line Maintenance?

Every two to three years is a reasonable baseline for most homes. If you have had root intrusion in the past, annual inspections are worth the investment — roots grow back, and catching them before they re-establish a full mass is much easier than clearing them after the fact. Older homes with clay tile laterals benefit from inspections every one to two years given the pipe material’s susceptibility to root penetration at joints. Homes with no history of sewer issues and newer PVC pipe can often stretch to every three to five years.

Done’s Care Club maintenance membership is worth exploring if you want to stay ahead of plumbing and sewer issues with scheduled service. To learn more about what Done offers for sewer line health, visit our drains and sewer services page or contact us to schedule an inspection.