Preventive drain maintenance plans
Most backups in apartment buildings build up for months before they happen. A maintenance plan clears the shared lines on a schedule, so they don't.
What's in a plan
- Hydro jetting of each building's mains and kitchen stacks, on a set schedule
- A camera check of any line that looks wrong, with video
- Notes on cleanouts, caps and access that need repair
- Optional catch basin cleaning on the same visits
- A short report after every visit for your owners or board
How the schedule is set
On the first visit we jet and camera the main lines and see how much build-up there is. Buildings with heavy grease or a history of backups usually get visits every 6 to 12 months; others every 12 to 24. You get one fixed price per building per year.
Built for property managers
- Resident notices provided ahead of every visit
- One invoice format across every property you manage
- Certificates of insurance naming your owners, on request
- Visits scheduled around move-ins, events and busy hours
Why apartment stacks clog. Every unit above the first floor drains into shared vertical stacks and a common main. Grease, food and wipes from dozens of kitchens build up in the same few pipes, so when one finally blocks, it backs up into the lowest units first. Jetting the stacks and main on a schedule is what keeps that from happening.
Frequently asked questions
How often should an apartment building's drains be cleaned?
It depends on the building and how it's used, but most apartment mains and kitchen stacks do well with jetting every 12 to 24 months. Buildings with a history of backups, older cast iron or clay pipe, or heavy grease from resident kitchens often need it every 6 to 12 months. A camera inspection on the first visit shows us how fast your lines build up, and we set the schedule from that.
What's included in a maintenance visit?
Jetting of each building's main lines and kitchen stacks, a camera check of anything that looks wrong, notes on cleanouts that need repair, and a short report with photos or video. Catch basins can be added to the same plan.
Is a maintenance plan worth it for a small building?
Usually, if the building has had even one main-line backup in the last few years. A single backup into a ground-floor unit often costs more in cleanup and repairs than several years of scheduled jetting.
What does a maintenance plan cost?
Plans are priced per building, typically $350–$550 per building per visit, with catch basins at $250–$400 each. We quote a fixed annual price after the first inspection.
Put your drains on a schedule.
Send us your property list and we'll quote a plan for each building.