⚠ Active sewer backup? Call (503) 555-0184 · Two emergency-response trucks staffed 24/7

What We Do

Six services. All sewer.

Subterra is a single-niche firm. Our entire service menu is sewer and drain — lateral lines, mains, trenchless replacement, hydro-jetting, mechanical rooting, camera inspection, and emergency sewer response. We do not do general plumbing. We do not do septic. We do not do commercial industrial sewer.

This narrowness is not a marketing pose. It is a staffing and equipment decision. Every Subterra service truck is provisioned identically — sewer camera with sonde locator, K-7500 cable machine, small-pipe hydro-jet, cleanout tools. Our two emergency trucks add the larger 4,000 PSI / 18 GPM hydro-jet trailer. Our trenchless rig — a 2017 Peterbilt 348 with a TT Technologies Grundocrack 800G mounted on the rear deck — is one of two trenchless rigs owned (not rented) by a residential sewer firm in the Portland metro.

What follows is the full menu. Each service is detailed on its own page with pricing transparency, equipment specs, and the typical project profile.

Service No. 01

Sewer Line Replacement

Open-trench replacement of failed laterals and mains. We replace cast iron, clay tile, ABS, and Orangeburg pipe with SDR-35 PVC or HDPE. Permits and inspections coordinated through Portland BDS.

Open-trench is the right call when the line is fully collapsed, badly bellied, or when the homeowner prefers a fully accessible replacement for future work. We coordinate Portland BDS permits and inspection ourselves and handle the entire restoration scope.

Typical project profile: 4" or 6" line, 30–80 ft from cleanout to city tap, 5'–12' depth, 2–5 days door-to-door including permit and inspection.

SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT (OPEN-TRENCH) Cast iron, clay tile, ABS, or Orangeburg → SDR-35 PVC or HDPE 4" or 6" diameters typical 5'-12' depth typical Permit + inspection coordinated through Portland BDS 2-5 day duration for typical residential lateral

Read more about sewer line replacement →

Service No. 02

Trenchless

Pipe-bursting and CIPP lining — replace your sewer line through two small access pits instead of trenching your front yard. We own the rig (a 2017 Peterbilt 348 with a TT Technologies Grundocrack 800G + 6-ton TRIC Tools pulling unit). Marina Sundström-Reyes runs every pull.

Trenchless is the right call when there is mature landscaping, a driveway, a sidewalk, or a building addition over the line — or when the line is under public right-of-way (Portland BDS prefers trenchless under sidewalks).

Typical project profile: 4"–8" HDPE replacement, 30–180 ft run, 1 day door-to-door, two 3'×3' access pits.

TRENCHLESS PIPE-BURSTING TT Technologies Grundocrack 800G pneumatic system TRIC Tools 6-ton hydraulic pulling rig 4"-8" diameter range · HDPE pull-through replacement 30-180 ft typical run · Most projects complete in 1 day NO yard excavation beyond two access pits (insertion + receiving)

Hydro-Jetting

Truck-mounted hydro-jet at 4,000 PSI, 18 GPM. Specifically for chronic root and scale problems in residential laterals and mains — not for one-off clogs (use a snake for that). Camera-verified before and after.

We carry warthog, chain-knocker, and penetrator nozzles. Same-day scheduling for non-emergency hydro-jet work.

HYDRO-JETTING Truck-mounted hydro-jet at 4,000 PSI, 18 GPM 1/2" through 8" pipe diameters Root cutting via warthog/chain-knocker nozzles Camera-inspected pre + post Same-day scheduling for non-emergency

Drain Main Cleaning

Mechanical rooting via K-7500 cable machine. For a single residential stoppage in a 4" or 6" main, the cable is the right tool. For chronic root and scale recurrence we recommend a hydro-jet upgrade.

DRAIN MAIN CLEANING Mechanical rooting via K-7500 cable machine Up to 200 ft cable · 4"-6" main lines For chronic root + scale recurrence we recommend hydro-jet upgrade $325 base, camera additional $145

Camera Inspection

Color sewer camera with sonde locator — 200 ft reach. Real-time recording delivered to the homeowner via Dropbox link. Sonde locator gives accurate depth and position mapping for repair planning.

Standalone camera inspection is $295 and is waived if the project upgrades to repair or replacement work.

CAMERA INSPECTION Color sewer camera, 200 ft reach Real-time recording delivered via Dropbox link Sonde locator for accurate depth + position mapping $295 standalone · waived if upgrade to repair/replacement work

Emergency Sewer Response

Two emergency-response trucks staffed at HQ 24/7/365. Each carries sewer camera, hydro-jet, and emergency cleanout tools — full sewer-specific diagnostic capability in one visit. Average inside-Portland arrival: 42 minutes.

EMERGENCY SEWER RESPONSE Two emergency-response trucks staffed 24/7/365 Each carries camera, hydro-jet, and emergency cleanout tools Average inside-Portland arrival 42 min $385 after-hours dispatch · waived if repair exceeds $1,200