Choose a sewer contractor on evidence and scope, not on the first price. Verify insurance, workers' compensation coverage and any provincial licences, get two or three written quotes built from the same camera footage, and make sure each names the method, restoration, permits, final video and warranty. Be wary of anyone who quotes major work without footage, pressures you, or demands a large deposit.
- Match the contractor to the lane: cleaning, inspection, lining, bursting and excavation are often different specialists.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and, in Alberta, a WCB clearance letter, which protects you from a contractor's unpaid premiums.
- A written contract with scope, price, schedule, payment terms and cancellation rights is the standard Alberta's government advises.
- Quotes are only comparable if they price the same method, from the same footage, with the same restoration.
- Keep the before and after videos, permit and warranty together; they are the proof of what you paid for.
01 /What should you verify before hiring a sewer contractor?
Start with the basics that protect you if something goes wrong on your property. Alberta's government advises checking that tradespeople hold valid certificates and that a contractor carries workers' compensation coverage and public liability insurance. Other provinces have similar expectations under their own rules.
| Item | Why it matters | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Liability insurance certificate | Covers damage to your property or a neighbour's | Ask for the certificate; call the insurer if in doubt |
| Workers' compensation coverage | In Alberta, without a clearance letter you may be liable for a contractor's unpaid premiums | Request a WCB clearance letter |
| Trade certification for plumbing work | Plumbing is a regulated trade in most provinces | Ask which certified tradesperson will do the work |
| Business licence where required | Some municipalities license contractors | Check your city's business licence registry |
| Prepaid contractor licence (Alberta) | Required if they take payment before finishing work away from their premises | Service Alberta licence and posted security |
| Permit responsibility | Unpermitted work can cause insurance and resale problems | Ask who pulls the permit, in writing |
HAUSE Sewer does not license, certify or vet contractors. These checks are yours to make, and they take minutes compared with the size of most sewer jobs.
02 /Which contractor fits which sewer service lane?
Many companies do everything; many specialise. The right question is whether the company has the equipment and track record for the lane you actually need. Asking the wrong kind of contractor to price a job tends to produce a quote for the method they own rather than the one your pipe needs.
| Service lane | Usually delivered by | Ask specifically |
|---|---|---|
| Drain cleaning | Plumbers, drain-cleaning companies | Cable and head types; is a camera available on the truck? |
| Camera inspection | Plumbers, inspection specialists | Recording, distances, locate and written notes |
| Hydro jetting | Drain and sewer cleaning specialists | Nozzles and pressure for your pipe material |
| Trenchless repair | Lining or bursting specialists | Materials, curing or pulling method, reinstatement, final video |
| Sewer replacement | Excavation and plumbing contractors | Shoring, bedding, restoration, inspection before backfill |
| Sewage cleanup | Restoration companies | Moisture readings, removal plan, disinfection, insurer liaison |
03 /What should a sewer quote include in writing?
Alberta's consumer guidance is to always insist on a written contract, get written estimates from more than one business, and have the payment schedule and any cancellation rights spelled out. For sewer work, the scope details below are what make quotes comparable.
- The evidence
Which camera footage the quote is based on, and the defects and distances it addresses.
- The method
Cleaning, spot repair, lining, bursting or open cut, with materials named.
- Access and restoration
Where they will dig or enter, and exactly what gets rebuilt: lawn, concrete, landscaping, basement floor.
- Permits and inspections
Who applies, who pays and when inspections happen.
- Price and payment
Itemised costs, taxes, deposit, payment schedule and what triggers a change order.
- Proof of completion
A final camera run with the file delivered to you.
- Warranty
Written terms for workmanship and materials, including exclusions.
04 /What are the red flags when hiring a sewer contractor?
Alberta's government lists door-to-door solicitation, prices quoted without a site visit, large up-front payment demands and refusal to sign a written agreement as warning signs. Sewer work adds some of its own.
- Replacement recommended without footage, or footage you are not allowed to keep.
- Pressure to decide on the spot, especially during an active backup when you are stressed.
- A price far below the others with vague restoration or permit wording.
- No mention of locates before digging, or reluctance to discuss trench safety.
- Warranties that exist only verbally, or depend on conditions nobody explains.
- Claims you cannot check, such as a promised lifespan with no written terms.
05 /How do you compare sewer quotes fairly?
Put the quotes side by side in a simple table: method, metres of pipe, depth assumed, restoration included, permits included, final video, warranty, total with tax. Gaps show up immediately.
Use the sewer cost estimator to test whether each quote sits within a sensible planning range for its conditions, and the sewer service costs page for every lane. SewerQuotes.com in the network goes further on quote comparison.
06 /How should payments and deposits be structured for sewer work?
Tie money to milestones you can see. For a cleaning or camera visit, payment on completion is normal. For excavation, lining or bursting, a modest deposit to book materials and crews is common, with the balance on completion and acceptance of the final video.
| Stage | Typical trigger | What you should have in hand |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Signing the contract | Written scope, schedule, cancellation terms |
| Progress payment (larger jobs) | Pipe installed and inspected | Inspection passed, photos of the open work |
| Final payment | Restoration done, final video received | Video file, invoice, permit close-out, written warranty |
Hold back final payment until restoration is complete and you have the finished-line video. If a change order comes up mid-job, ask for it in writing with the price before the extra work starts.
07 /What should you keep after the job is done?
- The before and after camera videos, with distances visible.
- The final invoice showing the scope actually completed.
- The permit and inspection record.
- The written warranty and any maintenance conditions.
- Photos of the open trench or access pits, with a tape measure in frame.
These documents matter to insurers, to future buyers and to the next contractor. If you want help working out which lane you need before you call anyone, start with which sewer service do I need. When you are ready, the HAUSE Sewer desk can pass a service request to contractors where available.
FAQQuestions people ask
How many written quotes are enough before hiring a sewer contractor?
Two or three written quotes for anything beyond a routine cleaning is a sensible norm. Alberta's consumer guidance recommends written estimates from more than one business. Build them from the same footage and scope so they can be compared.
Should a sewer contractor have a licence?
Plumbing is a regulated trade in most provinces, so the person doing plumbing work should hold the relevant certification, and some municipalities require business licences. In Alberta, contractors who take payment before finishing work away from their premises need a prepaid contractor licence.
Why ask an Alberta sewer contractor for a WCB clearance letter?
In Alberta, a WCB clearance letter states whether a contractor has workers' compensation coverage and is in good standing. WCB-Alberta notes that if you do not have one and the contractor has not paid premiums, you may be liable for them.
How much deposit should a sewer contractor ask for?
There is no fixed rule, but large up-front demands are a warning sign in Alberta's consumer guidance. The deposit, payment schedule and refund conditions should be written into the contract.
Should I hire the company that cleared my emergency backup to do the repair?
You can, but you do not have to. Pay for the emergency clearing and a camera run, keep the footage, and then compare quotes for any repair or replacement at your own pace.
Does HAUSE Sewer vet the contractors it passes requests to?
No. HAUSE Sewer is an independent information and service-request network, not a contractor, and it does not license, certify or vouch for contractors. Make the checks on this page yourself before hiring anyone.
NETWORKGo deeper across the HAUSE Sewer network
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How to hire a sewer cleaner in Canada: questions to ask, insurance and WCB coverage in Alberta, a written scope template, red flags, and how to compare quotes.
SewerQuotes.com15 questions to ask a sewer contractor before you sign
15 questions to ask a sewer contractor before signing: diagnosis, scope, permits, city side, restoration, change orders, warranty and payment.
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