Although a sewer line repair is not usually at the top of most people’s minds, when damage occurs to your pipes and such repairs are needed, neglecting this matter can cause disastrous results, from expensive damage to serious health risks.
Fortunately, most of the time, this is not a plumbing issue that is hard to detect since there are often multiple obvious signs your sewer line needs a repair. If you see any of these signs, call a professional plumber quickly.
A clear sign that you need a sewer line repair is the sudden smell of rotten eggs inside or outside your home. This could indicate either a sewer line leak or blockage. If several drains also start to slow down or clog, this could indicate main line sewer issues. You may also notice strange sounds coming from your plumbing when in use.
Vibrant green patches on your lawn could also mean a sewer line leak. Left for too long, this could progress to large wet patches in your yard.
How are sewer lines typically repaired?
Although the type of sewer issues you have and the extent of your pipe damage can impact the specifics of a plumber’s approach to your sewer line repair, there are some standard steps of this process. Let’s explore some of the most common practices in sewer line repair.
1. Inspection and diagnosis
The first thing that a professional plumber must do is diagnose the issue to see where the root of your plumbing problem lies. The best way to do this is with a video camera inspection.
With this process, they insert a specialized waterproof camera through an access point and run it through your pipes, allowing them to see exactly what is going on in your sewer line. This also allows them to discover precisely where the issue is so they know what the problem is in your sewer line.
2. Locating and marking pipes and utility lines
Following the initial inspection and diagnosis, most plumbers will use spray paint to mark the location of your pipes in the ground. It is often necessary to use electronic detectors for this purpose. The plumber will likely also use spray paint to mark the locations of other obstacles below ground, such as utility lines or sprinklers.
3. Applying a problem-specific solution
Depending on what they find during the initial inspection, the plumber will then suggest a recommended course of action that is suitable for solving your sewer issues and next steps will vary accordingly. In most cases, they will need to perform one of the following procedures:
- Drain snaking: If your sewer issues are simply caused by a blockage in one of your pipes due to grease and hardened sludge, a foreign object, or tree roots, drain snaking may be the best option. This involves using a tool with a rotating blade to cut through the blockage and works best when this blockage exists in one particular area.
- Hydro jetting: Hydro jetting shoots a powerful jet of water through the pipes to flush out the sludge, sediment, or tree roots blocking the flow.
- Targeted sewer line repair: If the issue is pipe damage and it is isolated, like a cracked joint or a section broken by a tree root, the plumber may do a targeted fix. This requires digging a trench above this part of the pipe, cutting out the broken piece, installing a new one, and sealing everything.
- Sewer line replacement: Sometimes, your sewer line may be very compromised due to widespread cracking. If so, they may have to change the whole pipe. There can involve digging an open trench, or a trenchless approach that requires less digging.
Understanding Sewer Line Repair Costs
Since several causes can require a sewer line repair, the costs can also vary. To understand the expected expenses of a sewer line repair, there are a few factors to consider.
The Extent of the Sewer Issues
The biggest price impact of a sewer line repair is the type of damage. With a small issue, such as an isolated crack or minor root intrusion, you will only need a basic repair, which will cost less.
For more extensive damage, like collapsed pipes, you will need a full sewer line replacement. This will be more complex, ultimately increasing the price.
The Repair Method
The method of repair has an impact on the cost of repairing a sewer line.
- Sewer Pipe Spot Repair involves digging up a small section of the sewer line and repairing, rejoining or replacing it with a new pipe. This repair method is the least expensive, but is rarely applicable and not a good solution for older sewer lines.
- Trenchless Pipe Relining is a fairly modern method of repairing or replacing damaged or deteriorated sewer pipes without the need for extensive excavation or digging. Instead of digging up the entire sewer line, a pipe liner is inserted into the existing pipe and then cured in place to form a new, durable pipe within the old one. Although this method is less expensive than traditional excavations, it is not applicable for severely damaged or collapsed sewer pipes.
- Trenchless Pipe Bursting is a full replacement of the sewer line that destroys the old pipe and pulls a new one into its place. Although this repair method is the most expensive, it is also ideal for severely damaged, collapsed, or offset pipes, and is one of the least invasive methods because it only requires digging 2 holes; a launch pit and a receiving pit.
- Traditional Sewer Line Excavation, which involves digging up the ground to access and replace an older or damaged sewer line, is less expensive than Trenchless Pipe Bursting, but more expensive than Trenchless Pipe Relining and Spot Repair. Although traditional excavating is more disruptive to the property than any other repair method, it is still the best permanent long term solution.
The Accessibility of Your Pipes
Pipe accessibility also determines the cost of a sewer line repair. If they are underground, repairing them becomes more complex, so costs will increase. If they are easier to access, the job will be done quicker and cost less.
Contact Rooter-Man for Affordable and Effective Sewer Line Repair Services
Whatever sewer issues you may have, Rooter-Man can fix the problem with an efficient and results-driven sewer line repair. Whether your issue is minor cracks in the sewer line, tree root intrusion, or a full-fledged pipe collapse, we can repair the problem before the damage spreads.
Our plumbers will assess the situation and provide an effective solution, such as clearing a blockage with snaking or hydro jetting equipment, removing tree roots, or doing a targeted repair or full replacement.
For more information about our sewer line repair services, or to learn more about our other plumbing services, call Rooter-Man at 1-888-828-ROOT (7668) or contact us here.
