Sewer Line Services — Google Ads Keyword Research

Strategy Overview

Key findings and recommended approach for the Search #2 rebuild

Top 3 Opportunities Identified

Trenchless/No-Dig Keywords — $12-14 CPC vs $18-22 for generic sewer repair. Lower competition (0.25) and high-intent homeowners specifically searching for modern methods. This is the hidden gem.
Sewer Camera Inspection — Entry-point service at $8-18 CPC. Lower ticket but gets the tech in the door for upsells to full repair/replacement. High volume (27K+ "near me" searches).
Emergency/Backup Keywords — Highest urgency, highest conversion potential. These people need help NOW. "Sewer backup plumber" at $17 CPC is a bargain for emergency service calls.

Campaign Restructure Recommendation

Break the Search #2 campaign into 6 tightly themed ad groups. Each group gets its own tailored ad copy matching exact search intent. This improves Quality Score, lowers CPC, and increases conversion rate because the ad directly answers what the person searched.

Keywords to Avoid

Several high-volume keywords are DIY or informational — they waste budget with zero conversion potential. See the negative keywords section below for the full block list.

Ad Group 1: Sewer Line Repair (Core)

High-intent repair keywords — people with an active sewer problem

Highest Priority Est. CPC: $13-$19 Competition: Low-Med

Keyword	Match Type	Monthly Volume	Est. CPC	Competition
sewer line repair near me	PHRASE	60,500	$18.73	0.31
sewer repair near me	PHRASE	12,100	$18.40	0.49
sewer line repair	PHRASE	90,500	$18.56	0.09
sewer pipe repair	PHRASE	3,600	$13.87	0.27
residential sewer line repair	PHRASE	1,900	$10.28	0.40
commercial sewer line repair	PHRASE	1,300	$17.83	0.26
sewage line repair	PHRASE	1,300	$18.56	0.09
sewer service near me	PHRASE	2,400	$17.29	0.73
sewer contractors near me	PHRASE	1,300	$19.50	0.81
sewer line services	PHRASE	1,300	$26.96	0.17

Ad Group 2: Sewer Line Replacement

Full replacement intent — higher ticket, ready-to-buy customers

Highest Priority Est. CPC: $12-$17 Competition: Low

Keyword	Match Type	Monthly Volume	Est. CPC	Competition
replace sewer line	PHRASE	33,100	$14.36	0.09
sewer line replacement	PHRASE	8,100	$14.36	0.09
sewer line replacement near me	PHRASE	2,900	$12.61	0.52
sewer replacement	PHRASE	2,900	$16.87	0.28
sewer pipe replacement	PHRASE	2,400	$12.32	0.35

Why This Group Matters

Replacement keywords signal a customer who has already been quoted or knows they need a full replacement. These are the highest-ticket leads in the sewer space. Competition is surprisingly LOW (0.09) for the core terms — most competitors aren't bidding on these specifically.

Ad Group 3: Trenchless / No-Dig Sewer Repair

THE hidden opportunity — lower CPCs, lower competition, high-intent homeowners

Best Value Opportunity Est. CPC: $9-$14 Competition: Low-Med

Keyword	Match Type	Monthly Volume	Est. CPC	Competition
trenchless sewer repair	PHRASE	9,900	$12.99	0.25
trenchless sewer line replacement	PHRASE	8,100	$12.30	0.69
trenchless pipe repair	PHRASE	5,400	$11.56	0.14
trenchless sewer line repair	PHRASE	4,400	$12.06	0.26
pipe lining	PHRASE	4,400	$8.69	0.48
trenchless pipe lining	PHRASE	2,400	$11.76	0.30
trenchless sewer repair near me	PHRASE	1,900	$14.12	0.84
trenchless sewer replacement	PHRASE	1,900	$12.30	0.69
pipe relining	PHRASE	1,900	$9.69	0.62
cipp lining	PHRASE	1,900	$6.53	0.53
cipp pipe lining	PHRASE	1,900	$6.53	0.53
pipe liner	PHRASE	1,300	$11.09	0.38

Why Trenchless Is Your #1 Play

30-40% lower CPCs than generic sewer repair keywords ($6-14 vs $18-27)
Higher-intent searchers — they already know they want trenchless, meaning they've done research and are closer to buying
Premium service positioning — trenchless commands higher prices, so cost per lead can be higher while still being profitable
40,000+ combined monthly volume across all trenchless variations
If the client offers trenchless/CIPP/pipe lining, this ad group should get priority budget

Ad Group 4: Sewer Camera Inspection

Entry-point service — gets the technician in the door for upsell to repair/replacement

Medium Priority Est. CPC: $8-$18 Competition: Low-Med

Keyword	Match Type	Monthly Volume	Est. CPC	Competition
sewer inspection near me	PHRASE	27,100	$17.41	0.47
sewer camera inspection near me	PHRASE	3,600	$11.94	0.37
plumbing camera inspection near me	PHRASE	5,400	$15.25	0.45
sewer scope near me	PHRASE	4,400	$22.96	0.59
sewer line inspection	PHRASE	2,900	$17.03	0.29
sewer scope inspection	PHRASE	2,900	$20.81	0.65
sewer video inspection	PHRASE	2,900	$14.41	0.27
drain camera inspection	PHRASE	2,400	$6.40	0.95

Funnel Strategy

Camera inspection is often the first step before a full repair quote. These leads have a lower immediate ticket but high upsell potential. If the client offers free or discounted camera inspections as a lead gen offer, this ad group can drive massive volume at low cost. The ad copy should emphasize "Know exactly what's wrong before you pay for repairs."

Ad Group 5: Sewer Line Cleaning / Drain Cleaning

Maintenance and cleaning keywords — high volume, recurring service potential

Medium Priority Est. CPC: $17-$26 Competition: Med-High

Keyword	Match Type	Monthly Volume	Est. CPC	Competition
sewer line cleaning near me	PHRASE	40,500	$19.90	0.72
main drain cleaning near me	PHRASE	12,100	$25.18	0.83
sewer cleaning	PHRASE	12,100	$17.79	0.70
sewer line clean out	PHRASE	60,500	$16.98	0.76
hydro jetting near me	PHRASE	74,000	$22.75	0.70
drain jetting near me	PHRASE	14,800	$25.57	0.47

Watch Your Budget Here

Cleaning/drain keywords have the highest competition and highest CPCs in this space. Only include these if the client offers sewer cleaning/jetting services AND the budget supports it. These keywords will eat budget fast. Consider starting with trenchless + repair first, then expanding here once you have wins.

Ad Group 6: Emergency Sewer / Backup

Highest urgency — these people are calling the first company they see

High Priority Est. CPC: $17-$35 Competition: Med-High

Keyword	Match Type	Monthly Volume	Est. CPC	Competition
sewer backup plumber	PHRASE	2,400	$17.22	0.71
emergency sewer backup	PHRASE	2,900	$31.50	1.00
sewer backup companies	PHRASE	1,900	$34.79	0.90
sewer backup cleaning services	PHRASE	2,400	$57.76	0.82
sewage backup	PHRASE	1,600	$23.43	0.37
sewer backup restoration	PHRASE	2,900	$12.90	0.78
sewage backup cleanup	PHRASE	1,600	$32.45	0.40

Emergency Ad Group Strategy

Enable ad scheduling for this group — 24/7 if the client has after-hours service, or weekdays + weekends during business hours. Use call extensions and call-only ads. The ad copy MUST include "24/7", "Same Day", or "Emergency" to match urgency. These are the highest-converting keywords if the phone is answered.

Negative Keywords (Must Add)

Block these immediately to prevent wasted spend

DIY / Informational (zero conversion potential)

how to diy yourself how much does it cost how much to average cost cost to what is what causes why is how deep are how to find how to locate tutorial guide

Product/Tool Searches (wrong intent)

camera for sale buy camera rent rental snake tool drain snake auger sewing sew pattern sewing pattern

Insurance/Warranty (not service leads)

insurance warranty warranties state farm coverage worth it

Jobs/Careers (wrong audience)

jobs salary hiring career training certification license

Recommended Rollout Plan

Phased approach to get wins fast and protect budget

Phase 1 — Launch Immediately

Trenchless + Sewer Replacement

These two ad groups have the best CPC-to-intent ratio. Trenchless averages $11 CPC with serious buyer intent. Replacement keywords are $12-14 with almost no competition (0.09).

17 keywords total
Expected CPC: $10-$15
Allocate 50% of campaign budget here
Match types: Phrase for all

Phase 1 — Launch Immediately

Core Sewer Repair

Bread and butter keywords. Higher CPCs ($13-19) but massive volume. The "near me" variations are where conversions happen.

10 keywords
Expected CPC: $14-$19
Allocate 25% of budget
Focus on "near me" terms

Phase 2 — Week 2-3

Camera Inspection + Emergency

Add these once Phase 1 is running. Camera inspection is a lead gen play (lower ticket, door opener). Emergency keywords convert fast but cost more.

15 keywords total
Camera: $8-$17 CPC
Emergency: $17-$35 CPC
Allocate 20% of budget

Phase 3 — Only If Budget Allows

Sewer Line Cleaning / Drain

Highest competition space. Only expand here after proving ROI from Phases 1-2. These keywords will eat budget quickly at $17-26 CPC.

6 keywords
Expected CPC: $17-$26
Only 5% of budget initially
Monitor closely for conversions

Ad Copy Angles by Ad Group

Recommended headlines and descriptions to maximize Quality Score and CTR

Trenchless Ad Group — Sample RSA

Headlines (30 char max):

H1: Trenchless Sewer Repair
H2: No Digging Required
H3: Save Your Yard & Driveway
H4: Same-Day Sewer Repair
H5: Free Camera Inspection
H6: Licensed & Insured Pros
H7: [City] Sewer Experts
H8: Pipe Lining Specialists

Descriptions (90 char max):

D1: Fix your sewer line without tearing up your yard. Trenchless repair done right. Call now.
D2: Advanced pipe lining technology. No excavation needed. Licensed pros. Free estimates.
D3: Faster, cleaner, more affordable than traditional sewer repair. Get a free quote today.

Emergency/Backup Ad Group — Sample RSA

Headlines:

H1: Emergency Sewer Backup?
H2: 24/7 Sewer Service
H3: Same Day Sewer Repair
H4: We Answer Day & Night
H5: Fast Sewer Backup Fix
H6: Call Now — We're On The Way

Descriptions:

D1: Sewer backing up? Don't wait. Our emergency team responds fast. Call now for immediate help.
D2: 24/7 emergency sewer repair & cleanup. Licensed plumbers on call. We fix it today.

CPC Comparison by Category

Where your dollar goes furthest

Ad Group Category	Avg CPC	Competition	Combined Volume	Value Rating
Trenchless / Pipe Lining	$10.46	Low (0.25)	44,400/mo	BEST VALUE
Sewer Replacement	$14.10	Low (0.09)	49,400/mo	EXCELLENT
Camera Inspection	$15.02	Med (0.42)	51,200/mo	GOOD
Core Sewer Repair	$17.30	Med (0.30)	175,800/mo	GOOD
Emergency / Backup	$29.86	High (0.71)	15,700/mo	MODERATE
Sewer Cleaning / Drain	$21.36	High (0.73)	213,000/mo	MODERATE

Bottom Line Recommendation

Start with Trenchless + Replacement keywords — lowest CPCs, lowest competition, highest buyer intent. This is where the first wins will come from.
Add 48 keywords across 6 tightly themed ad groups — each group gets custom ad copy matching search intent for maximum Quality Score.
Add all negative keywords immediately — the DIY, cost, insurance, and tool-buying searches will drain budget with zero return.
Use PHRASE match only — not broad. Phrase match keeps traffic relevant while still capturing variations.
Enable call extensions + call-only ads for the emergency ad group.
If client offers camera inspections, use it as a low-cost lead gen offer in ad copy ("Free Camera Inspection with Any Repair").
Monitor for 2 weeks before expanding to cleaning/drain keywords. Get the wins in the low-competition space first.