Checklists you can print
Short lists for the moments that count: the first hour of a backup, reading a camera report, comparing written quotes and checking a contractor's CSLB license.
- Sewer emergency card
In a backup there is no time to search the yard for the cleanout or the house for the main shutoff. Fill this card in on a calm day and keep it where everyone can find it.
- Sewer camera inspection worksheet
Camera footage is only useful if you can find the important moments again. This worksheet captures each defect with its distance and depth while the plumber is still there to explain it.
- Sewer quote comparison worksheet
Sewer bids often differ because they cover different work. This worksheet puts the same questions to every quote so you can see the gaps before you sign.
- Checklist: hiring a plumber for sewer work
Sewer jobs are large, mostly underground and hard to inspect once backfilled. A few checks before signing protect you far more than anything you can do afterward.
- Map your sewer lateral
A simple sketch of where your sewer line runs, and what sits above it, makes every later conversation about repairs faster and more accurate.
- Sewer line maintenance calendar
An aging clay or cast-iron lateral cannot be made new by maintenance, but simple habits and a few scheduled checks can stretch the time between problems and catch trouble early.
- Sewer repair method decision guide
Work through these questions with your camera report in hand. The answers point toward the methods worth discussing; a licensed plumber makes the final call on site.