Frequently Asked Questions

Not always. A standard cable cleaning can handle many residential clogs. Jetting makes sense when:

• The line keeps clogging after being snaked
• The problem is grease, sludge or scale rather than a single blockage
• It's a commercial kitchen or restaurant line
• You're about to have a liner installed (the pipe has to be fully clean first)
• The camera shows heavy buildup coating the pipe walls

We'll tell you which one your line needs after we look at it, and we won't upsell hydro jetting when a cable will do the job. Our residential jetting pricing is quoted upfront at a flat-rate.

Hydro jetting cleans a sewer line with high-pressure water instead of a cutting cable. A specialized nozzle sprays water at thousands of PSI, forward to cut through blockages and backward to scour the pipe walls and push debris downstream.

A cable (snake) punches a hole through a clog. Jetting washes the whole pipe, wall to wall. That makes it the better tool for grease, sludge, scale and heavy root buildup, especially in restaurant, kitchen and multifamily lines.

We use a commercial-grade jetter that features 4000 PSI and 9 gallons per minute of volume, ensuring that we completely clear the obstructions or buildup in your pipes.

We recently received this question from a homeowner in Edina. It means your main sewer line is blocked somewhere between the floor drain and the street. The floor drain is usually the lowest opening in the house, so when the main backs up, that's where it shows up first.

Stop running water, don't flush, and call us. Running the washer or dishwasher will push more water into the basement. Common causes are tree roots, grease buildup, wipes and other flushed items, or a sag or break in the line. We'll clear it and run the camera to find out why it happened.

Usually one of three things:

1. Groundwater is getting into your line. Cracks and loose joints let rainwater in. During a big storm, your line fills faster than it can drain.
2. The city main is overloaded. When the municipal sewer surcharges, water can push back up into the lowest drain in your house, usually the basement floor drain.
3. Something is tied in that shouldn't be. Sump pumps, gutters or foundation drains connected to the sanitary sewer dump a lot of water into it during rain. Most Twin Cities cities don't allow this.

A camera inspection tells us which one it is. Fixes range from sealing the line, to disconnecting a sump, to installing a backwater valve that stops city water from coming back into your home.

A sewer cleanout is a capped access pipe on your main sewer line that gives a technician direct access to clear or inspect it. In many older homes it's in the basement near where the main stack meets the floor, or outside near the foundation, but some homes don't have an accessible one. Access matters because it affects the job: cleaning through a ground-level cleanout costs less than going through a roof vent or pulling a toilet, as shown on our pricing page. If you know where your cleanout is, tell us when you call so we can plan the visit.

If sewage is coming up in your home:Stop using water. Don't flush, run the dishwasher or washing machine, or take showers, because all of it drains into the same blocked line.Keep children and pets away from the affected area. Sewage water can carry bacteria, so avoid direct contact.Don't pour chemical drain cleaner into the drains, since it won't clear a main line blockage and makes the line harder to work on safely.If water is reaching outlets or appliances, turn off power to that area only if you can do so safely.Take photos or video for your insurance company, then call us to clear and camera-inspect the line.For anything beyond a small spill, consider a professional cleanup service for the affected area.

For a line with active root intrusion, clearing every 12 to 24 months is typical, but the right schedule depends on how aggressive the roots are, which the camera shows clearly. A line with a few small entry points might stay clear for a couple of years, while heavy intrusion may need attention annually, often timed for late winter to get ahead of spring growth. We recommend a specific interval based on your footage rather than guessing, and many homeowners with chronic roots put it on a maintenance plan so it's handled on schedule instead of during an emergency backup.

If roots keep coming back faster than that, for example every three months, the line likely needs a permanent fix, such as a spot repair of the damaged section or a liner. The camera footage helps determine the most economical long-term solution.

The classic sign of roots is a backup that keeps returning on a semi-regular cycle, often every several months, and frequently worst in the late winter or early spring when roots grow fastest. You may also notice gurgling drains, slow drains that worsen gradually, or multiple fixtures acting up at once. Snaking that fixes the problem for a while and then fails again is another strong clue, because the roots regrow. The only way to know for certain is a camera inspection, which shows the roots directly and reveals how many entry points there are and how severe the intrusion has become. If you are cleaning your main sewer line repeatedly, it's worth considering a permanent solution, such as a trenchless sewer liner to permanently seal the joints and prevent further root intrusion.

Yes. We remove roots mechanically with a cabling machine and cutting head that shears them out of the line. The one thing to understand is that roots regrow, because the entry points in the old pipe are still there, so cleaning manages the problem on a schedule rather than ending it in a single visit. We'll show you on camera how fast your roots are likely to return and recommend a cleaning interval that keeps the line clear and the backups at bay.

Yes, they're one of the most common causes of sewer trouble in older Minneapolis neighborhoods. Sewer lines carry a steady supply of water and nutrients, and as the joints in older clay-tile and cast-iron pipe loosen with age, they leak just enough moisture to attract roots from nearby trees and shrubs. A root finds a hairline gap, grows into the pipe, and spreads into a dense mat that snags everything flowing past. The mature trees in established yards across Edina, southwest Minneapolis, and St. Louis Park make this a recurring issue for homes with original pipe. If a neighbor's line has needed root cutting, yours may be worth checking too, since homes on the same street often share the same pipe and the same trees. Typically, maple trees and pine trees have the worst effect on sewer pipes. A quick way to tell whether roots are reaching your sewer pipe is to look up at the canopy; if the canopy arcs over your sewer line, it's likely the roots are extending that far too. A camera inspection shows the condition of your line, and we use it to recommend the right maintenance schedule so you can plan ahead instead of reacting to a backup.

No. Hydro jetting scours the inside wall of the pipe far more thoroughly than cabling, so it can keep a line clear for a long time, but it doesn't change the condition of the pipe itself. Grease returns if it keeps going down the drain, roots regrow through the same joints, and a cracked, offset, or heavily scaled pipe will keep catching debris. Jetting also isn't right for every pipe, which is why we run a camera first to see whether the line is sound enough to jet. How long the results last depends on what caused the buildup, and we'll tell you what we're seeing and how often to expect to repeat it.

Both methods have their place. Some companies recommend jetting when there is grease, sludge, or heavy buildup along the sewer pipe's walls. Cabling is suitable for most situations with roots and routine blockages. We use a camera inspection to determine what's going on and recommend a solution that best fits the condition of the line.

Yes, we recommend it. It's the best way to understand why the clog happened in the first place. It's like a doctor X-raying a previously broken bone after it's been healing in a cast for four weeks. A quick camera inspection will reveal the health of the sewer even if it's flowing again and ensure the risk of another backup is mitigated.

Because we don't believe you should have to take our word for it or pay for an additional service that is critical to understanding the condition of your sewer system. A sewer camera lets you see the condition of the line for yourself and confirm that the blockage was removed. Most homeowners have never seen the inside of their sewer line, even after paying to have it cleaned. We believe that you should see it for yourself, so that you're well informed and ensuring that any preventative maintenance issues are discovered early.

Most homes in the Twin Cities should have the main sewer line inspected every year or two depending on the previous years' inspection results, especially in high-risk areas with aging clay tile pipes in southwest Minneapolis, Edina, St. Louis Park, and Hopkins. A camera inspection is a form of preventative maintenance and will help determine whether a cleaning is warranted. If you've previously had a cleaning that revealed roots, an annual cleaning and camera inspection are highly recommended. A Lucky Dog club membership can help with annual reminders for scheduling and reduced costs for recurring sewer cleaning service.

Professional drain cleaning means clearing a drain or sewer line all the way through, not just poking a hole in the clog. For most clogs we'll start with a cabling machine that drives a steel cable with a cutting head down the line to chew through the blockage and pull it out. For grease, sludge, or roots, we use hydro jetting, which is high-pressure water that scours the full inside wall of the pipe until it's clean. On a paid main sewer line cleaning, we then run the included camera to confirm the line is clear and show you the result.

We don't recommend it. In a toilet, chemical drain cleaners tend to sink and sit in the bowl or trap instead of reaching the clog, where it can crack the porcelain and become hazardous if you later need to plunge it. In a garbage disposal, it can corrode the metal components and seals. Neither is built for that. Mechanical clearing using hand tools is usually best for these clogs. If the clog won't budge, the blockage is often further down the line, which is exactly where a professional cleaning pays off.

No, not in any practical sense. So-called flushable wipes clear the bowl, but unlike toilet paper they don't break down in water, so they travel down the line intact and snag on any rough spot, root, or bend, building into clogs that are a leading cause of main-line backups. They're an even bigger problem in the older clay-tile and cast-iron lines common across Edina, St. Louis Park, and Minneapolis, where joints and scaling give them plenty to catch on. The safe rule: the only things that belong in a toilet are human waste and toilet paper.

Store-bought chemical drain cleaners work on some soft clogs, but they come with downsides, and they're often not the best drain cleaner for the job. They rely on harsh acids or lye that generate heat, which can soften plastic pipe, corrode older metal lines, and damage seals. So, yes, drain cleaner can be bad for pipes, especially the aging cast-iron and clay common in our area. They also frequently fail on grease and root clogs while leaving caustic liquid sitting in the line. For a one-time soft clog, an enzyme cleaner or a hand auger is safer; for anything recurring, a flat-rate professional drain cleaning clears the cause without risking the pipe.

Some do. Lye and acid-based drain cleaners can dissolve hair given enough time, which is why they're marketed for bathroom clogs. The catch is that the same chemistry that eats hair is hard on your pipes and dangerous to handle, and it often clears only a narrow channel rather than the whole clog, so the drain soon slows again. For a hair clog in a sink or tub, a simple drain stick or hand auger pulls the clog out mechanically with no chemical risk. If a bathroom drain keeps clogging with hair, we can clear it fully and at a flat-rate.

A kitchen sink that clogs repeatedly is almost always a grease problem. Cooking grease and oils go down warm and liquid, then cool and harden inside the pipe, coating the walls and narrowing the line until food and debris catch on it. A store-bought drain cleaner or a quick snaking punches a hole through the buildup, but the grease layer remains, so it refills. The lasting fix is hydro jetting, which scours the grease off the full pipe wall. Keeping grease, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fibrous scraps out of the drain and running cold water with the disposal will help prevent it from coming back.

A sewer gas smell in the basement usually means a drain trap has dried out. Floor drains and rarely-used basement fixtures have a U-shaped trap that holds water to block sewer gas, and in a drain that sits unused, that water simply evaporates. Pouring a quart of water down the floor drain refills the trap and often clears the smell within a day. If the odor persists, the cause can be a venting problem, a partial main line blockage, or a cracked pipe, and we can pinpoint the underlying issue with a camera inspection. If the smell is strong or anyone feels dizzy, nauseated, or gets a headache, get everyone outside for fresh air and seek medical help if symptoms continue.

A toilet that bubbles or gurgles when you run the shower means air is being forced back through the system, and that almost always points to a partial blockage in the main line. When the main line is restricted, draining water pushes air backward and it escapes up through the nearest fixture, which is your toilet. It's an early warning worth taking seriously, because it often shows up before a full main line backup. A camera inspection will pinpoint the underlying issue causing this.

The most common signs of a clogged sewer line are multiple drains backing up at the same time, water coming up through a basement floor drain, gurgling toilets, slow drains throughout the house, or sewer odors. If you're seeing one or more of these symptoms, a camera inspection can quickly determine whether the sewer line is the cause.

When several drains back up together, the blockage is in your main sewer line, not a single fixture. Everything in the house drains into that one main line on its way to the city sewer, so when it's blocked the water surfaces at the lowest points first, usually a basement floor drain or a basement toilet. This is one of the few drain situations worth treating as urgent. Stop running water in the house and have the main line cleared and inspected with a camera before it overflows. We offer same-day service across the west metro when the schedule allows and work to prioritize urgent situations such as these.

Your basement floor drain is the lowest opening in the house, so when the main sewer line is partially blocked, that's usually the first place water comes back up. A floor drain that keeps backing up is rarely a problem with the drain itself. It usually signals that the main line is obstructed and restricted by roots, grease, or sludge, or a section of old pipe catching debris. Because it keeps recurring, the fix isn't another quick snaking; it's finding the cause. When we clear a main line, the camera is included, so we can show you exactly why it's backing up and clear it properly so it stays clear.

Sometimes. Coverage varies by plan, and many exclude pre-existing conditions or sewer lines. Read the contract, and don’t count on a warranty in place of a thorough inspection.

Usually not. A sewer scope is typically an add-on, often done by a separate company, but some home inspection companies are beginning to incorporate it. For older homes and long sewer lines, a camera inspection is worth the cost.

An offset is where two sections of pipe have shifted so they no longer line up. Picture the end of one pipe sitting a little higher or to the side of the next one. That lip catches paper and waste, and the gap lets roots, soil and water in.

Offsets are common in clay tile lines, which are made of short sections joined together. Minor offsets can often be managed with cleaning. Major ones may need a spot repair or a liner. We'll show you on the video which kind you have.

A belly is a sag: a section of pipe that has sunk lower than the pipe on either side of it. Water and waste settle in the low spot instead of flowing through, and over time that buildup causes slow drains and recurring clogs.

Bellies happen when the soil under the pipe shifts or washes out. A small belly may just need regular cleaning. A large one that holds a lot of water usually needs that section dug up and re-set. A camera with a locator shows us where it is and how deep.

It means the pipe is open to the soil somewhere, and the pipe likely needs a repair very soon. Worms and dirt can't get into a sound sewer line. They come in through a crack, a broken section, or a joint that has separated, usually the same openings tree roots use.

It happens in older Twin Cities homes with clay tile or cast iron lines. It isn't always an emergency, but it's a warning sign: soil getting in means the pipe is losing its support, and that can lead to sags and collapses. A camera inspection will show exactly where the opening is and how bad it is.

Yes. Buyers, sellers, and their agents can book a standalone sewer inspection, and we provide a recorded video and written inspection report that you can share with your client, lender, or home inspector. Sellers can also benefit from scoping the line before listing, so they learn about roots or a bellied section before a buyer's inspector does. Call or book online to set it up.

A finding doesn't necessarily kill a deal. Depending on what the camera shows, such as roots, scaling, a bellied section, or a crack, buyers commonly ask the seller for a repair or a credit, negotiate the price, or accept the home and plan for maintenance. We give you a recorded video and written inspection report you can share with your agent, and we explain in plain English whether what we found is routine maintenance or a significant repair. If a repair is needed, we can quote a spot repair or lining. Your real estate agent can advise you on negotiating.

Yes. Using a sewer camera, we can trace the path of your line and mark where it runs and how deep it is. That's useful before digging, planting trees, building a deck or fence, or planning a repair. Locating is also what tells us exactly where to excavate if a spot repair is needed.

In most cities, the property owner is responsible for the private sewer service lateral that connects your property to the public sewer, including the connection at the sewer main. That means if the pipe collapses at the city sewer line connection, you will likely be responsible for the excavation, repair, and restoration of the street.

It depends on your policy, so check before you make decisions. Standard homeowner's policies often exclude damage from sewer or drain backups unless you've added water backup coverage, and they commonly don't cover pipe repairs caused by wear, age, or root intrusion, though some cover sudden, accidental damage. Some insurers and home warranty plans also offer optional sewer or service line coverage. Ask your agent about sewer backup and service line coverage, and keep photos, video, and any camera inspection report to document what happened. We do not work directly with insurers, so treat this as general information and confirm the details with your insurer.

Sewer repair costs vary widely because they depend on what the camera shows and on the job itself: how much pipe is affected, how deep it is, how much digging is involved, and what needs to be restored afterward. Typically, it can range from $5,000 to $35,000, so it's best to get a camera inspection first. We start with a camera inspection and locate, show you the findings, and give you a price for the recommended fix before work begins. If you already have a quote from another company, we're happy to give you a second opinion.

Sewer lining, also called cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) or trenchless repair, creates a new pipe inside your existing one without digging up the whole line. After the line is cleaned and inspected, a resin-saturated liner is pulled or inverted into the pipe, pressed against the walls, and cured until it hardens into a smooth, seamless pipe. Because it covers cracks and joints, it can also help keep roots out. Lining works best when the existing pipe still holds its shape and alignment. A collapsed, badly sagging, or severely offset section usually needs excavation instead, and your camera footage shows which applies.

The camera inspection decides, not a guess. As a general guide:Damage in one or two places on an otherwise sound line usually points to a spot repair.Multiple cracked or root-invaded joints along a longer stretch, where the pipe still holds its shape and alignment, often point to lining.A collapsed, heavily sagging, or severely separated section usually requires excavation.A line that is simply dirty or has roots but is otherwise intact typically needs cleaning and maintenance, not repair.Many sewer lines may not need a repair yet, but just like a home's roof or furnace, will eventually need repair or replacement. We'll show you what we see and explain what we recommend and why.

A sewer spot repair fixes one damaged section of the line instead of replacing the whole thing. After a camera inspection shows exactly where the problem is, such as a cracked, collapsed, badly offset, or root-damaged section, that spot is located, excavated, and repaired or replaced, and then the excavation is backfilled. It's usually the right fit when the damage is localized and the rest of the line is in good shape. The camera and locate steps are what tell us whether a spot repair makes sense or the problem is bigger, and you'll see the same footage we do.

Yes, it is fundamental to our service and process. We believe customers need to see what we're seeing. We'll show you the footage in real-time, explain what it means in plain English, and answer any questions you have. Our goal is to help educate you on your drain and sewer system and understand what its current condition is, rather than just asking you to take our word.

Yes. If another company recommended a sewer repair, replacement, liner, or other major work, we're happy to inspect the line and give you an independent assessment. We'll show you the camera footage and give you a recorded video and inspection report, so you can make a decision or take it to any contractor for another quote. Sometimes the recommendation is justified and sometimes there's a less expensive option, and we'll tell you plainly whether we agree.

Sewer liners are one of the most common recommendations we're asked to double-check. Sometimes a liner is the right fix: cracked or broken pipe, root intrusion at many joints, or a line that's losing its shape. Sometimes it isn't: the line just needed a proper cleaning, the damage is limited to one spot that a smaller repair would handle, or the problem is a belly a liner won't fix. And sometimes a line will need a liner eventually but can hold off for a few years. Read more in Told You Need a Sewer Liner? Get a Second Opinion First.

Yes, we can help with sewer line repair, including excavation spot repairs and trenchless sewer lining. Lucky Dog manages your repair project from start to finish, from the camera inspection that finds the problem to the finished repair, so you have one company to call. We'll show you the camera footage, explain whether a cleaning, a spot repair, lining, or something bigger makes sense, and give you the price before any work begins. If your footage points to a full replacement, we'll walk you through your options. And if no repair is needed, we'll tell you that too.

Minneapolis and west metro area homes share a predictable set of sewer issues tied to their original pipe: tree-root intrusion at the joints of clay-tile lines, internal scaling and corrosion that narrows old cast-iron pipe, and bellied or offset sections where the pipe has settled over the decades and now catches debris. Many neighborhoods in Edina, St. Louis Park, and southwest Minneapolis were built before 1940, so the original line is well past its expected service life. None of this means a line is failing today, but it does mean a camera inspection is worth doing so you know exactly what condition your pipe is in.

There's no single age that makes a sewer line unusable. Condition matters far more than age. As a guide, clay-tile lines typically last about 50 to 60 years and older cast iron about 50 to 75 years. Many homes in our area have pipe older than that still in service. A well-maintained older line can keep working for years, while a neglected one might fail sooner. Rather than guess, the right move is a camera inspection that shows the line's actual condition, so you can plan around facts instead of assumptions.

Yes, it's some of the cheapest insurance you can buy. A camera inspection tells you whether your main line is clear and sound or developing problems like roots, scaling, or settling, while those issues are still small and manageable. Compared with the cost and disruption of an unexpected sewer backup into a finished basement, knowing your line's condition in advance is well worth it, whether you're buying a home, dealing with slow or recurring drains, or want to plan preventative maintenance on your own timeline instead of during an emergency.

Yes. A sewer inspection is recommended before buying any home, regardless of its age, because the house may be new but the pipes may be ancient. A standard home inspection usually doesn't include a sewer scope, yet the sewer line is one of the few systems that can fail expensively and invisibly, with no way to judge its condition from inside the house. For a flat rate, we'll send a camera down the main line and give you a recorded video and written inspection report showing the pipe's real condition before you close. On an older home in Edina, St. Louis Park, or Minneapolis with original clay or cast-iron pipe, it's one of the smartest moves a homebuyer can make. No one wants a sewer backup and water damage two weeks after moving into a new house.

A sewer camera shows the real condition of the inside of your pipe in live video. It reveals exactly where a blockage is and what's causing it, such as tree roots growing in through joints, grease and sludge coating the walls, scale buildup in old cast iron, or a cracked, bellied, or offset section that keeps catching debris. It also identifies your pipe material and shows how the line runs toward the city sewer.

When you're comparing inspections, look for a technician who shows you the video in real time, points out where each problem sits in the line, and explains it in plain English. Lucky Dog's camera inspection is included with paid sewer cleanings. A standalone inspection includes a recorded video and written report. If you'd like a copy of the video from a cleaning visit, that's available for an additional charge, and either way we keep the footage on file at no charge for future reference.

Tree roots don't automatically mean a sewer line needs to be repaired. Some sewer lines with root intrusions can remain serviceable for years with preventative maintenance. However, if roots are puncturing the pipe at multiple points or a camera inspection reveals severe cracks or defects, a repair might make more sense. We'll show you exactly what we're seeing on camera and explain it clearly. If a repair is warranted, we can take care of it as a spot repair or sewer lining project, or you can take our footage and get other quotes.

Usually $350 to $1,000 or more per spigot, depending on how easily the water line can be reached from inside.

Typically a few hundred dollars, depending on pipe material and access. It’s one of the cheapest insurance policies in the house.

Act quickly to limit the damage:Shut off the water at the valve for that fixture, or at your main water shutoff.If water is near outlets, appliances, or your electrical panel, stay clear and turn off power at the breaker only if you can do so safely and dry.Move belongings out of the way and take photos or video for your insurance claim.Call us. We work to prioritize active leaks as quickly as our schedule allows.

We can take emergency and after-hours calls on a case-by-case basis, depending on the situation and our technicians' availability. Call us, tell us what's happening, and we'll tell you whether we can be there and when. Main sewer backups and active leaks are the situations we work hardest to prioritize. If we can't get to you fast enough, we'll say so right away and refer you to one of our trusted partners.

Yes. We install and replace sump pumps and sewage ejector pumps. If your pump is running constantly, not turning on, making unusual noises, or your basement gets wet after storms, give us a call. Because we're also drain and sewer specialists, we can tell you whether a wet basement is a pump problem or a drain or sewer line problem, so you're not paying to replace the wrong thing. Sump and ejector pump work is quoted upfront before work begins.

A sump pump removes groundwater that collects in a pit near your foundation and discharges it away from the house, which helps keep your basement dry. A sewage ejector pump serves fixtures below the level of your main sewer line, such as a basement bathroom, laundry, or bar sink, and lifts wastewater and solids up to the sewer line. They do different jobs and shouldn't be interchanged. Local codes generally don't allow sump pump water to be discharged into the sanitary sewer, so if you're not sure how yours is set up, we can take a look.

Yes. We repair and replace toilets, faucets, and garbage disposals, and we fix leaking pipes, supply lines, and shutoff valves. For a running toilet or dripping faucet, a repair is often the more economical choice, and we'll tell you whether repair or replacement makes more sense for your situation instead of defaulting to the bigger job. You'll get an upfront quote before work begins.

Age is the biggest factor. Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years, so past 10, plan for a replacement in your budget, or in your negotiation if you're buying a home. Other common signs include water pooling around the tank, rusty or discolored hot water, rumbling or popping noises from sediment buildup, not enough hot water, or repeated repairs.

A leaking tank generally can't be repaired and needs to be replaced. A loss of hot water, on the other hand, is sometimes a failed heating element or thermostat, which can be repaired, so replacement isn't always the answer. If you see water pooling around the heater, shut off the water supply to it, turn off the power or gas if it's safe to do so, and call us.

Yes. We repair, replace, and install water heaters for homes and businesses. If yours is leaking, running out of hot water, or reaching the end of its life, we'll look at whether a repair makes sense or replacement is the better value, explain your options, and give you a recommendation. You get an upfront quote before any work begins, and you make the call.

In addition to drain and sewer cleaning, camera inspections, and sewer repair, Lucky Dog is a licensed plumbing contractor. Our plumbing services include:Water heater repair, replacement, and installationToilet, faucet, and garbage disposal repair and replacementLeak repair, supply line repair, and shutoff valve serviceSump pump and sewage ejector pump installation and replacementCommercial plumbing service for property owners and managersNot sure what you need? Plumbing work is quoted upfront before work begins. Call or book online, describe the problem, and we'll tell you what we think is going on.

Both. Lucky Dog is a licensed plumbing contractor that specializes in drains and sewers. Drain and sewer cleaning, camera inspections, and sewer repair are our core work, and we also handle residential and commercial plumbing service, including water heaters, fixtures, leaks, and sump pumps. Drain and sewer cleaning is flat-rate, and plumbing work is quoted upfront before work begins. That means one company can find the cause of a problem with a camera and then fix it, instead of handing you off to someone else.

Yes. Restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and commercial kitchens often experience the highest level of grease buildup that requires routine maintenance. We will develop a preventative maintenance schedule based on your facility's usage and service history to reduce downtime and prevent business disruptions.

Yes. Lucky Dog aims to provide property managers, landlords, HOAs, and facility managers with timely, responsive, and hassle-free service. On every service call, we provide clear documentation of our diagnosis and inspection findings, service recommendations, and a summary of the work completed as well as recommendations for future service. We also recommend and provide preventative maintenance programs to reduce costs of repeated one-off drain cleanings, provide priority scheduling, and ensure preventative maintenance is completed in a way that benefits tenants and local businesses.

Yes, we highly recommend that commercial property owners and managers subscribe to preventative maintenance programs to prevent costly, time-intensive sewer backups that lead to tenant complaints, business disruptions, and emergency service costs. Lucky Dog will build a tailored preventative maintenance schedule based on your property's service history and current drain and sewer condition (based upon a camera inspection).

Yes. Lucky Dog provides drain and sewer cleaning for restaurants, schools, churches, warehouses, and other commercial buildings throughout the Minneapolis west metro. We offer routine maintenance, emergency drain clearing when our schedule allows, sewer camera inspections, and preventative maintenance programs.

As a licensed plumbing contractor, we also handle commercial plumbing, including repairs, water heaters, and other plumbing needs. Using one company for drains, sewers, and plumbing means one point of contact and one service history for your property. Property managers and facility managers appreciate our fast response times, clear communication, and straightforward service agreements, and plumbing work is quoted up front before it begins. See our commercial services.

Yes. The city’s water meter replacement program requires working shutoff valves on both sides of the meter before the new meter is installed.

Lucky Dog is based in Hopkins and primarily serves Edina, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Hopkins, and southwest Minneapolis, along with other west metro communities. If you're not sure we serve your address, call or book online and we'll confirm.

Spring is the hardest season on older sewer lines, which is why many backups in Edina, Minneapolis, and St. Louis Park homes happen between March and May. A few things stack up at once:

• Freeze-thaw cycles shift the ground and can move or crack older clay tile pipe.
• Snowmelt and spring rain saturate the soil, so groundwater pushes into cracks and loose joints and carries in silt that restricts flow.
• Tree roots come out of dormancy and grow fastest in spring, reaching into those same moist joints.

Those wet conditions are also when sump pumps work hardest, so a spring backup or wet basement is worth checking on both the sewer line and the sump. If your line has a history of roots or slow drains, a cleaning and camera inspection in late winter is the best way to get ahead of it.

Yes. Many Minneapolis homes, particularly in southwest Minneapolis, are 75 to 100+ years old, and homes built before the 1960s across Minneapolis and the west metro often still have their original clay tile or cast iron sewer lines. Neighborhoods such as Linden Hills, Fulton, and Powderhorn have old clay tile pipes, which are susceptible to root intrusion from mature trees and to settling or shifting over repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

An older line hasn't necessarily failed, and a well-maintained one can keep working for years. A sewer camera inspection shows your pipe material, its condition, and whether roots, cracks, or offsets are developing, so you can plan maintenance instead of reacting to a backup.

Many Hopkins neighborhoods contain homes built before modern PVC sewer systems became common. As clay tile sewer lines age, roots can enter through the clay tile joints, which are every two feet down the length of the sewer line. Small defects and years of ground movement can also create settled sections that can collect water or debris in the pipe. These issues often develop gradually and may not become noticeable until a backup occurs.

Yes. Many homes in St. Louis Park neighborhoods, such as Brookside and Minikahda Vista were built before PVC sewer system installations were standard, making them susceptible to scaling and corrosion in the cast iron pipes and root intrusions into the clay tile lines. Understanding the condition of these sewer lines utilizing a camera inspection and preventative maintenance is key to preventing a sewer emergency.

While every home is different, older neighborhoods with mature trees and pre-1960s clay tile or cast iron sewer lines see far more root intrusion, cracking, scaling, settling, and recurring backups than newer areas with PVC pipe. In southwest Minneapolis and the west metro, neighborhoods where we commonly see sewer issues include Linden Hills, Fulton, Powderhorn, Morningside, Minikahda Vista, Country Club, Interlachen, Brookside, and older parts of Hopkins and St. Louis Park.

Yes. Many Edina neighborhoods, such as Country Club and Morningside, were developed in the 1920s to 1960s, when clay tile and cast iron sewer lines were commonly installed. While many of the cast iron sewer lines function well today, aging clay tile lines frequently face issues with root intrusions from mature trees in residents' yards or along street boulevards. A camera inspection can quickly determine the condition of the sewer line.

Many older homes in older Minneapolis neighborhoods were built around the same time using the same sewer materials. If one homeowner on the block is dealing with tree roots or aging clay tile, nearby homes are likely experiencing or will soon experience the same issues. That's the main reason that we believe in camera inspections with our sewer cleanings and offer preventative maintenance plans.