Start with the right first call
For a sewage backup, follow the City of Calgary's 311 guidance before arranging private work. The City's assessment can help distinguish a public-system issue from one on private property. Keep people away from sewage and wet electrical equipment.
- Has 311 assessed whether a City inspection is needed?
- Which part of the system is affected?
Ask for a diagnosis you can keep
Our buying advice: request the camera recording, a written interpretation and the location of each defect. Clearing a blockage, inspecting a line and replacing it are different scopes. A repair recommendation should connect the observed defect to the proposed work.
- Will I receive the full recording and defect locations?
- What alternatives were considered, and why?
- Who is accountable for the diagnosis and repair?
Compare the finished job
A useful proposal explains investigation, access, utility locates, permits where required, excavation or lining, testing, disposal and restoration. Ask who owns each handoff and what changes the price. Landscaping and concrete repair deserve the same clarity as the pipe work.
- What is excluded from restoration?
- What evidence confirms the repair is complete?
- Who handles a callback and under which written terms?