We Clean Sewer Lines in the Twin Cities
We deliver same-day sewer line cleaning across Minneapolis and St. Paul to clear blockages at the source and protect your home from repeat flooding or damage.
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Serving Minneapolis with Fast Sewer Pipe Blockage Removal
Northern Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® is the local plumbing team homeowners in Minneapolis, MN call when the sewer line isn’t flowing. We clear the full run and keep the job clean in basements and yards, with pricing that’s direct and no steps that feel unclear or overdone. When you need it handled by a dependable team nearby, call Northern Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® when you’re ready.
The problems we clear most often
Sewer line cleaning gives you a reset that lasts longer than the first flush. House plumbing might slow down for all kinds of reasons, but the buried sewer pipe is where backups actually start. When we open the line, these are the common causes of restricted flow we clear out:
- grease buildup narrowing the pipe
- sludge layering that reduces the space water should have to move
- roots working into joints and creating new snag points
- crushed or pinched sections that tighten the passage
- heavy buildup settling in low areas of the pipe
- seasonal ground pressure shifting older lines and trapping debris
A good cleaning restores as much of the pipe’s original flow space as possible, clears out root and buildup choke points, and reduces the chance of the next backup forming in the same place.
A blocked sewer pipe doesn’t need delays — it needs to be cleared soon, cleared fully, and cleared clean. When you want a dependable Minneapolis team to handle it the right way, Northern Ben Franklin tops the list.
Call Northern at (320) 559-3407 for professional sewer line cleaning.
Minneapolis sewer line clearing by a local team
Northern Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® is built on one mission: solve sewer backups soon, clear the entire pipe, and keep homes clean where we work. We operate out of Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, so sewer line clearing is regular work for our crews, done without shortcuts or messy cleanup handoffs.
Our mission in action: Provide sewer line clearing that restores outward flow, soon, with no unnecessary steps or mess added.
Local knowledge that matters: Crews based in Minneapolis neighborhoods, familiar with older sewer pipes, tree-lined blocks, wet seasons, and frozen months.
What we don’t compromise on: Clearing the full sewer pipe run and removing roots, grease, and packed debris completely instead of stopping at first movement.
The result we finish with: Toilets, drains, and cleanouts working again, clearing done carefully, costs already clear, workspaces clean.
Northern Benjamin Franklin clears sewer lines for Minneapolis homes with one expectation: the pipe runs outward again and the workspace stays clean where it was opened. Before the trucks are packed and the cap is replaced, this is what we verify on every job.
Sewer Line Cleaning Guarantees Homeowners Can Count On
When the sewer line is blocked, homeowners want the job done soon, done clean, and done completely. Northern Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® is the local team serving Minneapolis, MN and the larger Twin Cities Metro area with crews trained to handle full sewer line clearing for houses of all ages. When we arrive, the goal is simple: remove the blockage fully, restore the flow you depend on, and keep your home clean while we work. Before any sewer job is closed out, we verify the core things that matter most:
✔ That you get exactly what you need: a cleared line and no added mess
✔ That the entire sewer pipe was cleared, not just one section
✔ That roots, grease, buildup were completely broken apart and removed
✔ That wastewater is flowing out of the home again properly
✔ That nothing was left messy where we worked
✔ That the pipe was cleared without causing new damage
✔ That the cost was given in clear terms before we began
✔ That the clog was removed and will not form again in the same place
Common Reasons Behind Sewer Line Clogs
(and how to stop them from coming back)
Everyday causes that build the blockage
Most sewer line clogs (about 65%) start with what goes down the drains during normal home use. Grease, soap residue, paper fibers, and soft waste don’t always wash out in one pass, and they collect over months in the main pipe under the house.
When buildup forms, the result you already know too well is wastewater coming up at the lowest drains, toilets flushing slowly, or water surfacing at the yard cleanout near the foundation. Prevention here is about reducing what enters the drain path in the first place, not troubleshooting after the backup starts. The simplest way to stop daily buildup is:
- keeping grease out of the system
- running water longer after heavy sink or shower use,
- and using strainers so less waste reaches the main pipe underground.
Local factors that Worsen Sewer clogs
Roughly 35% of sewer line backups around Minneapolis are due to outside pressure on the pipe when a clog is already forming or active underground.
- Mature trees across neighborhoods like Coon Rapids, MN put constant moisture pull on aging sewer joints, giving roots a path into the pipe.
- Minnesota freeze and thaw months shift soil around older sewer lines, tightening weak spots and trapping more debris.
- Heavy rainfall increases pressure on a line that’s already blocked, pushing sediment toward basement drains or outdoor cleanouts when the pipe can’t carry water outward anymore.
These are normal local conditions around clogged sewer pipes that can intensify how fast a backup spreads into the basement or yard.
Sewer backups spread fast, so the job is to go right to the blockage and clear the entire pipe cleanly so nothing is left half-done or messier than when we arrived. Northern Benjamin Franklin is local to Minneapolis streets, basements, and yards, and sewer clearing is part of the workday for our crews. We know the common causes and how to remove them fully so wastewater flows out the way it should and your home works normally again. If you want it handled soon by a Minneapolis plumbing team that’s close by and dependable, call the Northern team today.
Call us at (320) 559-3407 for prompt sewer line cleaning.
How Main Sewer Lines Are Cleaned
1 – Close out cleanly
The cap or drain is replaced. The work area is inspected. No debris, water, or waste is left behind that makes the problem feel bigger than the fix.
2 – Locate the best access point
We find the cleanout or the lowest drain that gives the clearest entry into the sewer line. This is usually a capped pipe in the yard, crawl space, or basement floor drain.
3 – Open the line for clearing
The cap or drain cover is removed so equipment can enter the pipe safely. Floors or grass around the opening are protected if needed, since this is where the work happens.
4 – Run the cable through the entire line
A drain cable (often called a plumbing snake) is fed into the pipe and pushed forward until it reaches the city connection, cutting through the blockage and scraping the pipe walls as little as possible while still clearing it.
5 – Break up and rinse out the clog
The blockage is pulled apart and cleared, not just poked through. After the line is open, water is run to flush grease, debris, roots, or sludge out of the pipe so it doesn’t resettle where it was stuck.
6 – Confirm the line is flowing again
We check that wastewater is moving out of the home smoothly by testing toilets and multiple drains. If water is exiting without hesitation, the line is considered cleared.
Frequently Asked Questions
What usually causes sewer blockages in the Twin Cities?
The biggest culprits are grease and sludge accumulation that narrow pipe diameter, compounded by Minneapolis urban tree canopy pressure driving roots into pipe joints. Freeze and storm runoff seasonal shifts also accelerate choke-point formation in aging laterals.
Will sewer line cleaning stop my basement drains from backing up again?
A proper cleaning restores flow diameter where possible and removes root or debris entry points. This dramatically reduces repeat backups, especially before seasonal ground compression from winter soil stress or summer storm surges.
How can you confirm the blockage is actually gone?
We physically clear the line to restore diameter. Optional camera diagnostics after cleaning provide proof of pipe diameter, belly formation, or root re-entry threats so you get both resolution and a prevention plan.
Is this the service I need if multiple drains are backing up at once?
Yes. When multiple fixtures or a yard cleanout fail simultaneously, the problem is almost always the main sewer lateral, not a single interior pipe.
How often should I clean sewer laterals in Minnesota?
Smart sewer maintenance happens before extreme weather seasons peak — late summer after storms-reroute runoff pressure or early fall before freeze compression compounds infiltration debris.
If roots caused my clog, will they return?
Roots can re-enter compromised joints if joint integrity and diameter go unverified. That’s why we inspect root pressure zones, clear them completely, and recommend seasonal re-checks based on street behavior patterns.
Our Drains & Sewer Services
Hydrojetting
Got a stubborn clog that just won’t quit? Hydrojetting blasts away years of buildup, grease, and roots with high-pressure water — clearing your pipes safely and restoring full flow. It’s the ultimate deep clean for your drains and sewers, done by our local pros who know exactly how to keep your pipes in top shape.
Leak Detection & Repair
Hidden leak? Sky-high water bill? We’ll track down leaks fast using advanced tools — no guesswork or tearing up your walls for nothing. Once we find it, our licensed plumbers fix it right the first time, so you can stop worrying about wasted water and surprise damage.
Sewer Line Services
A damaged or clogged sewer line is more than an inconvenience—it’s a serious health hazard. From video inspections and hydro jetting to trenchless repairs and full replacements, our team handles every sewer line issue with expertise and minimal disruption to your yard.
Repiping
Old pipes giving you constant leaks or low water pressure? Our Northern plumbers handle complete or partial repiping to upgrade your system for good. We’ll inspect your current pipes, explain your options clearly, and replace outdated lines with modern, durable materials — all with minimal disruption to your home and routine.