You love your investment properties, and you've made smart decisions to protect them. Maybe it's raised beds for landscaping, updated appliances, or stainless steel exterior siding. But are you giving your sewer line the preventative maintenance it deserves?
Blocked drains and clogged sewers are among the most frequent landlord vs. tenant disagreements that end up in small claims court. In most cases, the landlord pays — whether they were responsible for the clog or not. Reason being? Burden of proof, which most landlords lack.
Preventative high-pressure sewer cleaning changes all of that. And here's why.
Table of Contents
Rental Properties Have A Higher Risk Than Most Homes
Hydro Jetting Doesn't Just "Unclog" Pipes
How Much Drain Cleaning Costs Vs. Emergency Repairs
Sewer Line Maintenance Frequency For Rentals
Warning Signs Of A Lazy Tenant (Or Worse)
Rental Properties Have A Higher Risk Than Most Homes
Whether your rental property is a single-family home or an apartment building, think of this: there's only one set of tenants damaging your sewer line right now. Once you transition to a rental model, suddenly you have:
Multiple tenants coming and going throughout the year
Residents who don't fully understand how their actions impact your plumbing
Stress on your sewer line day in and day out
Renters flush random objects. Food scraps make it down kitchen drains. Hair and debris builds up over time. And since tenants aren't thinking about your bottom line, who cares — right? But here's the thing…
It doesn't matter if your tenants are being nefarious or negligent. You still have a blockage on your hands that needs addressing.
Preventative maintenance keeps you one step ahead of guesswork. Literally.
Hydro Jetting Doesn't Just "Unclog" Pipes
Often compared to pressure washing a pipe from the inside out, hydro jetting:
Removes debris, grease, tree roots, and mineral scale from sewer lines
Uses high velocity water to blast gunk right out of the pipes
Scrubs clean the interior walls of pipes instead of just making holes through clogs
Your plumber can't see inside sewer lines. However, when they use high-pressure drain cleaning, the buildup that comes out during the cleaning process tells the story.
Renters in Las Vegas face unique challenges with sewer line cleaning because desert soil conditions cause intrusion from tree roots faster than in areas with normal rain levels. Higher calcium levels also put rental properties in the Southwest at risk for accelerated buildup inside pipes. Periodic sewer jetting in Vegas removes the most stubborn buildup that a plumber's snake can't reach or fix.
Which leads us to…
Snake Vs. Hydro Jetting
Snakes punch holes through blockages, leaving gunk on the pipe walls
Hydro jetting cleans blockages out of pipes and scrubs the walls clean
Hydro jetting reaches farther into sewer lines than most drain snakes
Hydro jetting eradicates grease, roots, mineral deposits, and solid debris
Looking for a clear winner? Hydro jetting wins hands-down for preventative maintenance.
How Much Drain Cleaning Costs Vs. Emergency Repairs
How often should you clean sewer lines? If you're guessing, "As seldom as possible," you're about to change your tune.
Consider this…
There is no such thing as "skipping a cleaning." Either you perform routine maintenance, or you wait until the line is so clogged that you need an expensive repair.
An often-overlooked fact when determining sewer line cleaning frequency? You're playing with fire either way — financially speaking.
Emergency sewer line repairs run landlords anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 or more. That does not include excavation costs if your pipe is underground, landscaping damages that need fixing, or permit fees. On average, you can expect to pay at least $4,000 out of pocket for sewer repairs that could've been prevented with periodic cleanings.
Don't forget that long-term savings doesn't stop when the work is complete. Unclean sewer lines cost your rental profitability in many ways:
Major repairs mean loss of rental income until plumbing is fixed
Repair calls open you up to tenant complaints and potential lawsuits
Backups can cause serious property damage not covered by insurance
Mold infestations present health hazards to tenants
It only takes one sewage disaster to exceed what you'd paid in preventive maintenance over years of owning a rental property.
Sewer Line Maintenance Frequency For Rentals
Annual sewer cleaning keeps your plumbing in tip-top shape. However, just how often should you schedule it? It depends.
If you own an older rental property with lots of trees nearby, you might need hydro jetting every six months. Modern plumbing jobs use PVC pipes, but older homes have iron or clay sewer lines that deteriorate over time. Couple that with tree roots in search of the nearest water source, and you've got a recipe for costly problems.
Regardless of pipe material or root issues, most rental properties benefit from high-pressure drain cleaning at least once per year. If you own a multi-unit rental or student housing with high turnover, you might even consider twice per year to keep up with wear and tear.
Hydro jetting is often quoted per linear foot of pipe serviced, so larger properties or homes with long driveways may have higher service quotes than smaller complexes or apartments.
High-pressure drain cleaning costs average between $250 to $450 nationwide depending on your location and the plumber. Your local Las Vegas plumbers will be able to give you a more accurate quote once they learn more about your property.
Bottom line: You can't do too much preventative maintenance, especially when it's this affordable.
Warning Signs Of A Lazy Tenant (Or Worse)
It doesn't matter if you think your tenants would never pour grease down the sink or flush inappropriate items. Rental properties require routine maintenance because…
People are people. Unless you were raised by the pipes you rent out, your tenants will make poor decisions with your plumbing at some point.
That's why it's easier to prevent monthly bills of $400 – $900 by staying on top of sewer line cleanings than to wait for an SOS call from panicked tenants.
The faster you react to warning signs, the less you'll pay. Here's what to watch out for:
Drains taking noticeably longer to drain than usual
More than one drain acting up at the same time
Gurgling toilets when showering, washing clothes, etc.
Any drain giving off odors when running water
Toilet overflowing when other drains are filled to capacity
Oddly green patches of grass in the yard for no reason
If you notice any of these symptoms on your rental property, call for a cleaning right away to avoid higher costs down the road.
Once you start seeing signs of a clogged sewer line, don't wait for things to return to normal. The clog is likely to get worse, and you'll pay more if your plumber has to come out more than once.
When your tenants mention any of the red flags above, drop everything and call your plumber. Waiting can increase what would've been a simple sewer cleaning into an excavation job.
Think about it: you rent your property to other people because you want to protect investments, not maintain them daily. Sewer cleaning keeps things hassle-free.
Bottom Line: Rental Properties Deserve Regular Drain Cleaning Too
Regular maintenance saves you money, headaches, and sleepless nights.
Simply stated:
Sewer lines need hydro jetting at least once per year
Rental properties with older pipes or high turnover need cleaning more frequently
Cleaning your sewer line is much cheaper than waiting for problems
If tenants report sluggish drains, don't wait — call immediately
Annual sewer maintenance isn't just another bite out of your profits. It protects your rental home from unnecessary damage and disruption. If you've never scheduled sewer cleaning before, now is the time.
Bring your rental properties into the 21st century with preventative plumbing.
