Drain repair: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering drain repair

Drain repair is a diagnosis job first and a pipe job second. The work holds only if the camera check and the slope are right.

What customers ask

  • Do you need to dig, or can you fix it from the inside?
  • The drain keeps clogging. Is it a clog or a broken pipe?
  • How long will the repair take, and will the floor or yard be open afterward?
  • Is the whole line bad, or just the part you found?
  • Will the repair hold, and what happens if it fails?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask how the clogs have behaved, how often they happen, and whether there are wet spots in the floor or yard. Those details tell you whether a camera is needed before quoting.
  • Bring a camera and run it before you quote, then show the customer the footage at the failure spot.
  • State the distance from the access point to the failure in the quote, since it sets the scope of the work.
  • Quote the repair length, pipe material and fittings in plain terms, and name the slope you will hold.
  • Mark the route on the floor or yard before opening anything, so the customer sees what will be disturbed.
  • Test the repair with water and note the result on the job record before you leave.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of a drain repair, showing the pipe run and the new slope
  • Camera stills of typical failures you repair, such as a sag or root intrusion
  • List the pipe materials you work with, such as cast iron, PVC and ABS
  • State whether you do trenchless or lined repairs, and which drain work you refer out

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Schedule a camera check of the rest of an old run when the failure was at one spot
  • Recommend a yearly cleanout or line check for homes with mature trees near the drain line
  • Give the customer a sketch of where the pipe was changed, so the next plumber knows the route

Licenses and permits

Drain repair is commonly done only by licensed plumbers, and building drain work often needs a permit and inspection. Confirm the requirements with your state or local licensing agency before you start.

Questions

How do you decide between a spot repair and a full line replacement?

If the camera shows one failure in otherwise sound pipe, a spot repair is reasonable. If the pipe is corroded or sagged across most of the run, replacement is the honest answer. Show the footage to the customer either way.

What should I tell a customer whose drain runs under the slab?

Explain the access options, such as a cleanout, a trenchless lining or open trenching, and what each one does to the floor. Do not promise the pipe will hold without camera confirmation.

Do drain repairs need a permit?

Often yes for building drain work, and the rule depends on the scope and the location. Check with the licensing or building authority for the job site before you start.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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