How to Choose a Drain Cleaning Company in North Liberty
To choose a drain cleaning company in North Liberty, ask how they will find the cause, not just clear the clog. A good company matches the method to the line, offers a camera inspection when a clog keeps coming back, and puts the location, method, and cleanup in writing before work starts.
About this guide: it is published by Clog Busters, a drain and sewer company with a branch in North Liberty. It covers the questions we think any homeowner should ask, whoever they call, and it does not rank or review other companies.
Why does drain work in North Liberty need its own checklist?
North Liberty is a fast-growing city, and newer homes bring their own drain problems. The city counted 20,479 residents and 8,192 housing units in the 2020 Census, according to the Iowa Secretary of State’s 2020 Census place totals, and Johnson County grew 16.79 percent from 2010 to 2020, against 4.73 percent statewide, per Iowa HHS county quick facts.
A good share of our North Liberty calls come from newer subdivisions, where a settling lateral has developed a low spot that catches everything passing through it. Clearing the clog is not enough. Finding the low spot gives you a real choice.
Snaking or hydro jetting: which does your line need?
Snaking is the right first step for most single blockages, and hydro jetting is the better tool when the pipe wall itself is coated.
Snaking
Snaking, also called cabling, is drain cleaning that feeds a rotating steel cable through the pipe to break up or pull out a blockage. It works well on wipes, hair, or roots at a single joint. It does not scrub the full pipe wall, so leftover grease can rebuild a clog.
Hydro jetting
Hydro jetting is a cleaning method that sends high pressure water through a nozzle that scours the inside of the pipe wall. It removes grease, soap buildup, and sludge along the whole run. A cracked, offset, or collapsing pipe should be seen on camera before anyone jets it.
Drain Cleaning Method by Problem: A Decision Table
| What you are seeing | Usual first method | When to ask for more |
|---|---|---|
| One fixture slow, first time | Snaking | If it returns within weeks |
| Kitchen line keeps clogging | Hydro jetting | Camera if grease returns quickly |
| Several drains backing up at once | Snaking the main to restore flow | Camera after flow returns |
| Same main line clog, again and again | Camera first | Ask about a belly or offset joint |
When should a company recommend a sewer camera inspection?
A sewer camera inspection is worth it whenever a main line clog comes back, several drains back up together, or a repair is being recommended. A camera inspection is a diagnostic in which a waterproof camera on a flexible cable records the line’s condition from the inside.
Ask for:
- The video recording, which you keep
- The distance from the access point to each problem
- A mark in your yard showing where the problem sits
- A plain description of what the video shows
Ask to see footage before agreeing to any digging.
What is a sewer belly, and why does it matter in newer subdivisions?
A belly is a section of sewer pipe that has sagged below its intended slope, so water and waste pool there instead of flowing out. A lateral is the private sewer line from your house to the public main. In newer neighborhoods, the soil under a lateral can settle after construction and the pipe sinks with it.
On camera, a belly shows up as standing water across a stretch of pipe. Paper and grease settle in that pool, which is why the line clogs again after it is cleared.
Questions to ask about a belly
- How long is the low section, and where is it?
- Will regular hydro jetting keep it flowing, or does the slope need correcting?
- If you propose a trenchless method, how does it deal with the sag?
Some trenchless methods follow the existing pipe’s path, so they may not remove a low spot. The company should say whether its proposal fixes the slope or only maintains the line.
What should a sewer repair quote include?
A sewer quote should state what is wrong, where it is, how it will be fixed, and what your yard will look like afterward:
- The problem found, backed by camera footage
- Its location and approximate depth
- The method: spot repair, excavation, or trenchless replacement
- Where the work starts and stops on the line
- Whether utility locates and permits are included
- Lawn, driveway, or landscape restoration
- A camera check after the repair
- Warranty terms, in writing
For who owns which part of the sewer line, confirm with the City of North Liberty through its utilities office rather than relying on a contractor’s word.
What should you do during a sewer backup?
Stop running water first, then call a company that answers around the clock. Every fixture drains into the same main, so water you use can come up through the lowest drain.
While you wait:
- Keep people and pets away from sewage
- Skip chemical drain cleaner in a backed up line
- Note which drains backed up, and in what order
- Take photos for your insurer before cleanup
Ask whether the technician can run a camera once flow returns. Clearing the backup solves tonight. The video tells you whether it will happen again.
The City of North Liberty asks residents not to flush paper towels or so called flushable wipes and to keep fats, oils, and grease out of drains, according to its water quality and infrastructure page. Those habits matter even more on a lateral with a low spot.
For the other side of the job, see our guide to choosing a plumbing company in North Liberty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hydro jetting safe for damaged sewer pipes?
Hydro jetting is generally safe for sound pipe, but a line with cracks, a collapse, or an offset joint should be inspected by camera first. High pressure water can push through a weak section or wash out soil around a break. A careful company looks before it jets a line it has not seen.
How do I know if my sewer line has a belly?
The surest way to know if a sewer line has a belly is a camera inspection showing standing water in a section of pipe. Warning signs include a main line clog that keeps returning and slow drains throughout the house. Newer homes are not exempt, because settling soil can lower a lateral after construction.
Should I get the footage after a sewer camera inspection?
Yes, a homeowner should get a copy of the footage from any sewer inspection they pay for. It lets you see the problem, get a second opinion, and compare the line over time. Ask for it before the inspection starts.
Why does a clog come back after drain cleaning?
A clog comes back after cleaning when its cause stays in the pipe, such as a belly, roots at a joint, or grease on the walls. Snaking opens a path but does not scrub the whole pipe. A second clog in a short time is a reason to ask for a camera inspection.
How Clog Busters Fits
Clog Busters was founded in 2020 by owner Jarod Smith. Our North Liberty branch is at 390 Herky Street, Suite 1E, North Liberty, IA 52317, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, serving North Liberty, Coralville, Tiffin, Solon, and Swisher.
From that branch we handle drain cleaning, hydro jetting, and emergency backups, plus sewer camera inspections, leak detection, broken pipe repair, and trenchless sewer replacement through our North Liberty sewer services.
Use these questions with whoever you call, including us. To have us take a look, contact our North Liberty branch, or read our comparison of hydro jetting and traditional drain snaking.
Key Takeaways
- North Liberty had 20,479 residents and 8,192 housing units in the 2020 Census, according to the Iowa Secretary of State.
- Johnson County grew 16.79 percent from 2010 to 2020, compared with 4.73 percent for Iowa, per Iowa HHS.
- Snaking breaks through a blockage; hydro jetting scours the full pipe wall.
- A cracked, offset, or collapsing line should be seen on camera before hydro jetting.
- A belly is a sagged section of sewer pipe where water and waste pool, often from settling soil.
- The City of North Liberty asks residents to keep wipes, paper towels, and grease out of drains.
Citations and References
- Iowa Secretary of State, 2020 Census Iowa Incorporated Places Population
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Johnson County Quick Facts
- City of North Liberty, Water Quality and Infrastructure
