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Main Sewer Line Backup Resolved

Commercial Drain Clearing for Multifamily Properties

4 Hours

On Site

$920

Total Investment

100%

Restored

The Situation

A Failure Pattern Property Managers Should Recognize

Multiple downstairs units reported drain backups at the same time. When fixtures across separate units start failing in unison, the cause is almost never sitting inside any one unit, it’s downstream, in the shared main sewer line that carries the entire building.

Root intrusion is one of the leading culprits behind this pattern, and the risk climbs significantly when the underlying line is concrete. Concrete pipe joints give roots a foothold they don’t get with PVC, and once roots are established they keep growing until something gives.

A previous contractor had already attempted to clear this line and walked away unable to finish the job, they didn’t have equipment that could cut through the volume of root mass present. By the time we were called in, the property manager had a building full of frustrated tenants, a half-finished invoice from someone else, and an active operational problem.

Unresolved mainline issues compound: tenant complaints, water damage exposure, and a steady stream of repeat emergency calls until the underlying issue is actually fixed.
Verified Proof of Service

See the Line Before. See the Line After.

Camera footage isn’t an upsell on our jobs, it’s how we prove the work was done.

Severe root intrusion inside the main sewer line — before treatment
Before

Severe Root Intrusion

Camera footage from the initial inspection shows the mainline choked with root mass. This is the condition the previous contractor was unable to clear.

Fully restored main sewer line — after treatment
After

Full Line Restoration

Same camera, same line, four hours later. Full line capacity restored end to end. Property manager received the footage as documented proof.

We provide video camera inspections at no additional cost so property managers have visual accountability and proof of restoration.

The Lovett Solution

Systematic Root Removal

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The initial camera run revealed not one obstruction but multiple distinct areas of concern stretched along the mainline. Trying to push through the first one without a plan for the next would have just moved the blockage downstream.

So we worked the line in segments. Section by section, we ran the high-pressure hydro jetter fitted with a root-cutting head purpose-built for concrete pipe joints to target and clear each problem zone individually until the entire run was open.

Our Process

Camera-Based Mapping

A full camera inspection of the mainline to locate every point of root intrusion before any equipment touches the pipe.

Targeted Hydro Jetting

High-pressure jetting with a root-cutting attachment specifically designed for the joints of concrete sewer pipe, the exact tool the previous contractor didn't have.

Repeat Per Concern Area

Rinse-and-repeat the cycle for each distinct trouble spot on the line, not just the first blockage encountered.

Final Verification Inspection

A final camera pass top to bottom to confirm 100% line capacity has been restored, and to hand the property manager footage they can keep on file.

Tenant Experience

Zero Unit Entries Required

We know that at a multifamily property, tenant satisfaction is part of the property manager’s job description. Crews trampling through someone’s apartment to fix a problem they didn’t cause is a bad experience, even when it’s nobody’s fault.

Lovett Services performed every step of this job from the parking lot. Not a single apartment was entered. Tenants kept their privacy, the property manager kept their goodwill, and the work still got done top to bottom.

Simplified Pricing

No Hidden Fees. No Sub-Line Items.

We believe property managers deserve transparent pricing.

Project Invoice

Hydro Jetting / Descaling

4 hours at $230/hour

$920

Video Camera Inspection

Before & after, with footage delivered

Included

Total — Full Mainline Restoration

$920
The Difference

Why Property Managers Choose Lovett

Commercial Capability

Equipment built for high-density residential, heavy-duty jetters, commercial-length snakes, and pro camera systems for multi-unit buildings.

Camera Inspection Included

Every drain and sewer job comes with a video camera inspection at no extra charge, to confirm the problem and verify the solution.

450+ Five-Star Reviews

Verified Google Reviews from residential, commercial, and property management clients across the Pacific Northwest.

28+ Years of Service

Locally owned, serving the Pacific Northwest since the late 1990s with a stable, trained crew base.

Satisfaction Guarantee

We stand behind our work. If it's not right, we make it right.

Drain Cleaning

Dealing with a Sewer Backup?

We carry the equipment to handle what other contractors can’t. Call now for same-day service or request a quote online.