Most Mentor backups start on private property
The City of Mentor reports that in 2019, 82% of all wastewater backups reported to the Lake County Department of Utilities were blockages in customers' private laterals, the section of pipe between a building and the public sewer main that the owner is responsible for maintaining. The City points to fats, oils and grease and to "flushable" wipes as common culprits.
That figure is the best argument for camera inspection there is. When a lateral backs up, the question is whether it was a one-time clog or a sign of roots, a sag or a broken joint. A camera answers it in one visit.
Where we inspect in Mentor
- Condo and HOA communities: surveys of shared laterals and storm lines, with a ranked repair list for the board
- Apartment complexes: diagnosis of recurring backups in the same buildings
- Manufacturing along the Tyler Boulevard corridor: floor drains, process lines and yard storm piping, especially before an expansion or change of use
- Retail and restaurants: grease-laden laterals that need a condition check after jetting
- Property sales: pre-purchase lateral inspections
Who to call first
If you have an active sanitary backup, the City of Mentor advises calling the Lake County Department of Utilities' 24/7 line (440-350-3431) first. They'll determine whether the problem is in the public main. If it's in your lateral, we can clear it, inspect it and show you what caused it.
Inspection and reporting
We record continuous video and code findings to the NASSCO PACP standard, with defect locations, photos and severity grades, plus a plain-English summary. If grease or roots block the view, we hydro jet first so the full pipe wall is visible.