Drain and sewer questions, answered plainly

We charge a flat-rate price per job, not by the hour. Dispatch tells you the trip and diagnostic fee on the phone before we drive over. Once we know what's wrong, you get a written price for each option. Nothing starts until you approve one, and the price doesn't change unless you add work.

No. Emergency calls at night, on weekends and on holidays are billed at the same rate as weekday calls. Drains don't pick convenient times, and we don't think you should pay extra for that. The trip fee is still told to you on the phone before we come out.

Yes, for larger jobs like sewer line replacement and trenchless lining. Financing is available on approved credit through a third-party lender. We'll explain the options when we give you the written quote, and there's no pressure to use it. Most drain cleaning and camera calls are paid by card on site.

Major credit and debit cards, checks, and bank transfers for scheduled work. For rental properties, we can invoice the owner or property management company directly, with photos, footage and notes attached. Payment is due when the work is done unless we've agreed to something else in writing ahead of time.

Because a sewer line is buried several feet down and nobody can see it. Without footage, a repair quote is a guess. With it, you can see roots, cracks, bellies and broken joints yourself, share the video for a second opinion, and know exactly what you're paying to fix.

Orangeburg is sewer pipe made from wood fiber soaked in coal tar, used widely in the 1950s and '60s. It slowly goes oval and blisters, then collapses. Plenty of ranches and capes in Hooksett, Goffstown and Manchester's outer neighborhoods still have it. A camera inspection tells you for sure.

In clay tile lines, yes. Roots find the small gaps at each joint, then grow into a mat that catches paper and grease until the line blocks. Maples are the most common culprit around Manchester. Cutting roots buys time, but only lining or replacing the pipe seals the joints for good.

Usually close enough to be useful. Pipe material, joint style and past repairs tell us a lot, and so does the house's age. Clay tile and cast iron suggest older work, Orangeburg points to the 1950s and '60s, and PVC is newer. We'll note what we see in your written summary.

It's a way to repair or replace a sewer line without digging a trench the full length of it. Pipe lining forms a new pipe inside the old one. Pipe bursting pulls new pipe through while breaking the old one apart. Both need small access pits instead of a long trench across your yard.

Lining follows the old pipe, so a collapsed section or a deep belly stays a problem. Pipe bursting struggles in ledge and some soils. Around Manchester, ledge, bellies and Orangeburg that has already collapsed are the most common reasons we recommend a dig. The camera footage shows which situation you're in.

It can. New Hampshire frost can go several feet deep in January and February, which makes excavation slower. We dig year-round and can thaw ground when needed, and we'll tell you in the quote if winter conditions affect the schedule. Trenchless lining is often less affected by frozen ground.

We work on the pipe between your house and the septic tank, including clearing, camera inspection and repairs up to the tank inlet. We don't pump tanks or repair leach fields. If the problem is in the tank or field, we'll show you and suggest you call a septic company.

A backwater valve is a one-way valve in your main line that closes if the city sewer backs up, so sewage can't flow into your basement. It's most useful in older neighborhoods with storm-related backups. Ask us whether your house is a candidate and about your town's rules.

Stop using water in the house right away, keep away from anything electrical near the water, and keep kids and pets out. Take photos for insurance. Then call our 24/7 line at (603) 555-0148. We clear the line first and find the cause after.