Sewer clogged in a tricky spot? Here’s how to avoid digging and costs
It happens to every household and every business: suddenly the water no longer drains, you hear gurgling, or you smell a foul odor. When your sewer is clogged, you quickly think of breaking and digging. Honestly, that’s rarely the first step. Especially with a sewer clogged in a difficult location such as under a floor, in a busy restaurant, or beneath paving a controlled diagnosis is much faster and cheaper than immediately tearing up the ground. The goal is simple: find the cause, reduce the risk, and intervene only where truly necessary.
First certainty: Diagnosis without digging
Before making a plan, you want facts. With a camera inspection, we map out the trajectory, including bends, T-joints, and possible subsidence. Thanks to transmitter heads on the camera, we can pinpoint the exact location of the problem above ground. This way, you and we can determine whether opening locally is useful or if we can treat the pipe section from the inside. For a clogged sewer, this saves days of mess because you no longer have to guess where the blockage is. You receive a short report with images and clear advice for each scenario.
Smart detection and targeted action
To avoid excavation, we combine techniques. One list, clear and practical:
• Camera with transmitter: live image and precise location mapping
• Smoke test: detect false air, cracks, and faulty connections with safe smoke
• Dye and tracer gas: useful for leaks or backflow that isn’t constant
• High-pressure cleaning: targeted removal of grease deposits and soapstone without damage
• Robotic milling: removing root intrusion or hard buildup precisely on site
With this mix, the environment remains usable, and disruption is minimized even when the sewer seems clogged under a concrete floor or in a busy entrance.
Cause determines solution, not the other way around
A grease plug from the kitchen requires something different than a sunken terrace causing a kink in the pipe. That’s why we choose only after diagnosis. If the sewer is clogged with grease and soapstone, high-pressure cleaning or hot-water cleaning works best, possibly followed by a protective flushing routine. If it’s root intrusion, we mill the roots away and protect the joint. For cracks or leaking couplings, relining or spot repair is possible: we install a liner or sleeve from the inside that hardens and seals the defect. No trenches, but a durable solution.
Tricky locations demand smart logistics
In apartments, monuments, shops, or restaurants, downtime is costly. A sewer clogged in a kitchen or under a storefront often means you can’t operate. That’s why we plan tightly and work in time windows that cause you the least disruption. Think night or early-morning work, protective mats indoors and outdoors, and dust-free work when local opening is needed. Where necessary, we set up temporary bypasses so you can keep flushing. This way, your business stays operational while we solve the problem structurally.
Costs, scenarios, and transparency
Nobody wants surprises on the invoice. That’s why we link choices to clear amounts. You first receive a price for diagnosis and a proposal for each follow-up option, including materials and expected turnaround time. For a sewer clogged in the garden, under a driveway, or in a commercial kitchen, we compare the impact with the cost of doing nothing because water damage or recurring odor problems are ultimately more expensive. You decide, we execute, and we document what has been done, including photos for insurance or HOA.
What you can safely do until we arrive
A little self-help is fine if it’s safe. Unscrew and clean siphons, check that vents aren’t frozen or covered, and never flush aggressive chemicals one after the other. Don’t pour boiling fat into the sink and avoid hard objects in the drain. If the sewer is clogged and water is standing in the toilet, stay away from the plunger if you notice back pressure or surging in other drains. That only shifts the problem. Better to wait for the technician with the right tools than to cause extra damage through improvisation.
Prevention: Small routine, big effect
Most problems don’t arise in a single day. With a simple maintenance routine, you can prevent the sewer from clogging again. Strainers in the kitchen and shower, a separate container for grease disposal, periodic hot flushing with intensive use, and one preventive inspection per year if you have many bends or old clay pipes. In businesses, it makes sense to keep a logbook: what, where, and when. That makes trends visible and helps with targeted measures. Small discipline yields big peace of mind.
Why Riool Centrale Nederland
You want a partner who works directly and knows the difference between fast and rushed. At Riool Centrale Nederland, you get professionals who measure, explain, and only then choose. When your sewer is clogged, we deliver quick help but also look ahead: how do we prevent recurrence, and how do we keep your floor, garden, or business intact? Our reports are clear, our planning is tight, and our solutions are durable. This way, you save on excavation, limit disruption, and restore flow with a solution that truly lasts.
Read more here:
https://rioolcentralenederland.nl/riool-verstopt/
