Is Your Main Sewer Line Backing Up?
When more than one drain in your home backs up at the same time — a toilet gurgles when the washing machine drains, or the basement floor drain overflows when you run the shower — the problem usually isn't a single clogged fixture. It's the main sewer line, the pipe that carries everything from your house out to the city sewer or septic system.
Hiawatha Sewer has cleared main sewer lines across Roseville, Richfield, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, and Twin Cities area since 1947. We're a third-generation sewer and drain company, and main line work is what we do. If your home is backing up right now, call us at 612-722-2212.
Warning Signs of a Main Sewer Line Clog
You're likely dealing with a main line problem — not just a local clog — if you notice:
Several drains backing up at once, instead of just one
A toilet that bubbles or drops in water level when another fixture is used
Sewage smell coming from floor drains or the lowest drains in the house
Water backing up into the bathtub or shower when you flush
Gurgling sounds from drains after running water elsewhere
Sewage backing up through the basement or floor drain
A single slow sink is usually a local clog. When the whole house is affected, the blockage is in the main line, and clearing it takes the right equipment.
What Causes Main Sewer Line Clogs
Most main line blockages come down to a handful of causes:
Tree roots. Roots seek out the moisture and nutrients inside sewer lines and work their way in through joints and small cracks. This is the most common cause of recurring backups in older Twin Cities homes.
Grease and buildup. Years of grease, soap, and debris coat the inside of the pipe and gradually narrow it until it clogs.
Pipe damage or collapse. Older clay, cast iron, or Orangeburg pipe can crack, sag ("belly"), or collapse, catching debris and blocking flow.
Flushed items. Wipes, hygiene products, and other items that don't break down can lodge in the line.
The cause matters, because it determines whether cleaning solves the problem or whether the line needs a closer look. That's why we diagnose before we guess.
How Hiawatha Clears a Main Sewer Line
We locate the access point (usually a cleanout) and assess how the line is behaving.
We clear the blockage using a professional sewer machine (a motorized cable/auger) to cut through roots and break up the clog and restore flow.
When the cause needs a closer look, we camera the line. A sewer camera inspection shows us exactly what's happening inside the pipe — roots, buildup, cracks, or a bellied section — so you know whether cleaning is enough or whether there's an underlying problem.
We tell you what we actually found. No upsell theater. If cleaning solved it, we say so. If we see damage that will keep causing backups, we show you the video and explain your options.
Cleaning vs. Repair: When Cleaning Is Enough
For most backups, professional cleaning restores full flow and the problem is solved. But cleaning treats the blockage, not always the cause. If the line keeps backing up every few months, the real issue is usually roots reentering through a damaged joint or a section of pipe that's cracked or collapsed. In those cases you may need sewer line repair or lining rather than repeated cleanings.
A camera inspection is what tells the two apart. It's the difference between paying to clear the same clog three times a year and fixing it once.
Snaking vs. Hydro Jetting
Both clear a line, but they do different jobs:
Cabling / snaking cuts through and breaks up a blockage to reopen the pipe. It's the right tool for most root intrusions and clogs.
Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour grease, sludge, and buildup off the full interior wall of the pipe — a more thorough clean when the line is heavily coated.
Which one is right depends on the condition of the pipe and what's causing the blockage. We'll tell you which your line actually needs.
What to Do Right Now
Both clear a line, but they do different jobs:
Cabling / snaking cuts through and breaks up a blockage to reopen the pipe. It's the right tool for most root intrusions and clogs.
Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour grease, sludge, and buildup off the full interior wall of the pipe — a more thorough clean when the line is heavily coated.
Which one is right depends on the condition of the pipe and what's causing the blockage. We'll tell you which your line actually needs.
Areas We Serve
Hiawatha Sewer provides main sewer line cleaning in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding communities, including Roseville, Bloomington, Richfield, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, New Brighton, Fridley, Columbia Heights, Falcon Heights, Robbinsdale, Crystal, Hopkins, and Edina.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are multiple drains in my house backing up at once?
When several fixtures back up at the same time, the blockage is usually in the main sewer line rather than an individual drain. The main line carries waste from the whole house, so when it clogs, everything downstream of it is affected.
How do I know if it's a main line clog or just one drain?
If only one sink or tub is slow, it's typically a local clog. If the lowest drains in the house back up, a toilet bubbles when you run other water, or several fixtures are affected together, that points to the main line.
Can tree roots be removed without replacing the sewer line?
Yes — in most cases roots can be cleared and flow restored. A camera inspection tells us whether the pipe underneath is intact or whether the joint or section where roots are entering is cracked and will need repair to stop them coming back.
How long does it take to clear a main sewer line?
Most straightforward main line cleanings are completed in a single visit. If we find underlying damage on the camera, we'll walk you through what a repair would involve before any further work.
Do I need a camera inspection every time?
Not always. For a first-time clog we may simply clear it. If the line backs up repeatedly, a camera inspection is worth it, because recurring backups usually mean there's a root or a damaged section causing them, and the video shows exactly where.
My basement is flooding — what should I do right now?
Stop running water and avoid flushing to keep the backup from getting worse, then call us at 612-722-2212.
If your drain is clogged, your basement is backing up, or you think your main sewer line may be blocked, Hiawatha Sewer is here to help.
We provide drain cleaning for homeowners and businesses who need experienced help with clogged drains, sewer backups, and recurring line issues.
Call now or fill out the Request Service form to schedule service.