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No, you typically cannot use metal detectors to find your sewer line. Most sewer lines are made of non-metallic materials such as PVC, clay, or cast iron, which are not detectable by standard metal detectors. Metal detectors are designed to locate metallic objects, so they won't be effective for identifying the path of a non-metallic sewer line. To locate your sewer line accurately, it's best to use other methods.

Ideally, you might find that you only need to clean the sewer line or remove a clog from the main line. That costs $200 to $300. However, “sewer main clogs can cost upwards of $1,000 to clear, depending on what is causing the clog, distance from accessible cleanouts to the clog, and whether there is occupied space below the clogged line (apartment buildings, condos, etc.),” says Botelho.

It can take anywhere from half an hour to a few hours to fix a main line clog, depending on the cause and severity of it. The job should not take more than a day to complete. Keep in mind that the main line is not the same as your home’s sewer lines (which connect to the main line and run to your house). Your city is responsible for any clogs or damage to the main line itself.

The best practice is to clean the sewer drain lines in your home once a year or every two years. Older homes could require more frequent maintenance. Keeping up on cleaning your sewer lines can prevent severe clogs, help ensure your system is working properly, and prevent expensive repairs.