How to Choose a Drain Cleaning Company in Des Moines
To choose a drain cleaning company in Des Moines, ask which method they will use (cable or hydro jetting) and why, whether they run a camera before and after, and whether any sewer repair quote is backed by footage you can see. A good company explains the cause of the clog and puts every line item for sewer work in writing.
Disclosure: This guide is published by Clog Busters Drain Cleaning and Repair, a Des Moines drain and sewer company. We wrote it so you can compare any provider, including us, on the questions that matter for drain and sewer work.
Snaking or hydro jetting: which should they use?
The right method depends on what is in the pipe and what shape the pipe is in, so a good company tells you which one it plans to use and why.
Cable machines
Snaking, also called cabling, is drain cleaning that feeds a rotating steel cable with a cutting head through the pipe to break up or pull out a blockage. It suits most single fixture clogs but does not scrub buildup off the pipe walls.
Hydro jetting
Hydro jetting is drain cleaning that sends high pressure water through a nozzle to scour grease, sludge and fine roots from the full inside of the pipe. It suits grease heavy and recurring clogs, but a cracked, offset or partly collapsed line can be damaged further, so the pipe should be checked first.
Which Drain Cleaning Method Fits Which Problem
| Situation | Usual first step |
|---|---|
| One slow sink, tub or toilet | Cable machine |
| Kitchen line that keeps clogging with grease | Camera, then hydro jetting |
| Main line backup into a floor drain | Cable to restore flow, then camera to find the cause |
| Recurring roots in an older clay lateral | Camera, then root cutting or jetting, then repair options |
| Restaurant drain line | Hydro jetting plus grease trap service |
Should a drain company run a camera before and after?
Yes. A camera before the work shows what caused the blockage and whether the pipe can safely be jetted, and a camera pass after shows the line is actually clear.
A sewer camera inspection is a diagnostic in which a waterproof camera on a push cable records video of the pipe interior. Ask for:
- The footage, shared with you
- The distance from the cleanout to each problem
- A locate, if digging might follow
- A post cleaning pass
A camera inspection is a fair diagnostic, not an upsell, when you see the footage and the recommendation matches what is on the screen.
Why do tree roots keep coming back in older sewer lines?
Roots return because cleaning removes the roots inside the pipe but does not seal the joint they came through. A sewer lateral is the private pipe running from a house to the public main, and older laterals were often built from short sections of clay pipe, so every joint is a possible entry point. Moisture leaking from a joint draws roots in, and they regrow after each cut until the joint is lined, repaired or replaced.
A good company will show you on camera how many joints are affected and lay out the options:
- Periodic root cutting or jetting
- A spot repair where one section is broken
- Trenchless repair or lining where many joints leak but the pipe holds its shape
- Replacement where the pipe has collapsed or sags
Be cautious of a replacement pitch with no footage, and of endless root cutting with no mention of a permanent option.
What should a sewer repair quote include?
A sewer repair quote should name the defect, show where it is, describe the repair method and list everything that affects the final price. If you cannot match the quote to the footage, ask before you sign.
Sewer Repair Quote Checklist for Des Moines Homeowners
| Line item | What it should tell you |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | The defect (roots, break, sag, offset joint) and its distance from the cleanout |
| Method | Spot repair, trenchless repair or replacement, and why it fits this pipe |
| Location | Feet of pipe, and whether any runs under the street or sidewalk |
| Permits | Who pulls them and whether the cost is included |
| Restoration | What is restored after digging: lawn, driveway, sidewalk |
| Warranty | What is covered, for how long, and what voids it |
| Final camera | A recorded pass showing the finished repair |
The City of Des Moines Permit and Development Center handles construction permits and inspections, and it publishes a sample right-of-way excavation bond for plumbing contractors. If a repair reaches past your yard into the city right of way, ask whether the company handles that paperwork.
Is a drain maintenance plan worth it?
A maintenance plan is worth it for a known recurring problem, such as roots in a clay lateral or a grease heavy kitchen line, and rarely for a home that clogs once every few years. Ask whether the interval is based on your camera footage and what happens if the line backs up between visits.
For restaurants, scheduled grease trap service and line jetting usually go together. The Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority states that fats, oils and grease build up in sewer pipes, cause blockages and overflows, and can back raw sewage into homes and businesses.
What should you do during an emergency sewer backup?
Stop using water in the house first, because every flush adds to what comes up through the lowest drain. Then call a company that answers around the clock, and ask whether a technician will come that night, whether they can clear a main line, and whether they will camera it afterward.
Afterward, ask about prevention. The City of Des Moines Private Property Protection Program reimburses 100 percent of the cost, up to $1,500, for qualifying work such as installing a backwater valve. The city requires a pre-approval letter before work starts, a licensed plumber with a plumbing permit, and completion before June 30, 2028.
How Clog Busters fits
Clog Busters Drain Cleaning and Repair was founded in 2020 and is owned by Jarod Smith. Our Des Moines branch is at 3950 Vandalia Rd, Des Moines, IA 50317, and we are open 24 hours, 7 days a week for emergency drain cleaning and sewer backups.
Our work covers drain cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer camera inspections, sewer repair including trenchless repair, leak detection, and grease trap service for restaurants. We camera the line before we quote a repair, so the quote matches what you can see.
Use these questions with any company you call. If you would like us to look at your line, schedule service online or see our Des Moines branch.
For the other side of the job, see our guide to choosing a plumbing company in Des Moines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hydro jetting safe for old clay sewer pipes?
Hydro jetting can be used on clay pipe that is structurally sound, but it can damage pipe that is cracked, offset or partly collapsed. A camera inspection first shows which case you have. If the clay line is intact, jetting clears roots and buildup more completely than a cable. If it is failing, the conversation should turn to repair instead.
Does a backwater valve stop all sewer backups?
A backwater valve is a check valve on the private sewer service that closes when sewage tries to flow back toward the house from the public sewer. It protects against backups caused by a surcharged public sewer. It does not stop a clog inside your own lateral, such as roots or grease, from backing up.
Key Takeaways
- A cable machine opens a path through a clog; hydro jetting scours the full pipe wall but should follow a camera check on older or damaged pipe
- A camera inspection before cleaning finds the cause, and a pass after confirms the line is clear
- Roots return in clay laterals because cleaning does not seal the joints they enter through
- A sewer repair quote should list the defect, its distance from the cleanout, the method, permits, restoration, warranty and a final camera pass
- The City of Des Moines Private Property Protection Program reimburses 100 percent of qualifying work, up to $1,500, including new backwater valves, for work completed before June 30, 2028
- The Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority states that fats, oils and grease cause sewer blockages and overflows and can back sewage into homes and businesses
Citations and References
- City of Des Moines, Permit and Development Center
- City of Des Moines, Sample Right-of-Way Excavation Bond for Plumbing Contractors
- City of Des Moines Public Works, Private Property Protection Program
- Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority, Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG)
