Overview
Underground drain pipe gives out at the couplings, wherever a root sneaks in, and wherever moving ground bends it. Local soils grow and shrink with wet and dry spells, working the line like a hinge for decades. Vintage clay and cast iron take it worst, though plastic can pull apart or dip as well.
Once the camera shows the damage, we choose the smallest repair that will last. A single break near the house may be a short spot dig. Several defects along the line may call for replacing a section. A line failing end to end is a replacement. You see the video and the options before deciding.
How we handle it
Confirm on camera
Each defect located and depth measured.
Choose the repair
Spot, section or full line, based on what the video shows.
Repair and test
New pipe set on proper bedding, then flow tested.
What it costs
Depth, soil and what sits above the line drive the price. A shallow spot repair in open yard is the least. Digging under a driveway, patio or slab, deep lines in rocky ground and full replacements cost more. Permit fees are listed in the quote.
Good to know
- Call 811 or let us request utility locates before any digging.
- Ask whether the repair includes a new cleanout; it is cheap to add while the ground is open.
- Water the backfilled trench for a few weeks so it settles before you re-sod.
Rocky ground on the far northwest side can make digging slower than in the clay to the south and east. We factor soil and depth into the quote so the number holds.
Sewer repair questions
Will you tear up my lawn?
Only where the repair is. Spot repairs leave a small, contained dig.
Whose responsibility is the sewer?
Usually the owner's, from the house to the public main. Your utility can confirm where that line sits.
Do sewer repairs need a permit?
Often. We take care of it when it is required.
Can a sewer be repaired without digging?
Some lines can be lined from the inside. Whether it fits depends on the pipe, damage and access, and the camera tells us.