The sewer line is the pipe that runs from your home out to the municipal sewer line, and it consists of two main parts. The first part is the upper sewer lateral, which runs from the foundation of your home out to the edge of the property line. The lower sewer lateral then extends from the edge of your property line and connects to the municipal sewer main. Even though the lower lateral is not on your property, you are still 100% responsible for maintaining it.
Many different issues can damage a sewer line and cause it to break or develop a leak. For instance, a serious clog can sometimes put enough pressure on the pipe that it breaks. The pipe can also get damaged by the ground shifting after heavy rains. Tree roots are also another major cause of sewer line issues. If your sewer line does ever break or start leaking, you will then need to have it either repaired or completely replaced, depending on the extent of the damage. With that in mind, here is what you can expect if you need sewer line repair or replacement.
Sewer Line Repair
Sewer line repair is only a viable option if there is minimal damage to the pipe and it is still in good shape and mostly intact. To determine whether the pipe can be repaired, you will need to have a plumber perform a camera inspection. This involves running a camera down the length of the sewer line to check its condition and look for any damage. If your home has sewer cleanouts in your yard, then inspecting the line is quite easy as the cleanout provides direct access to the pipe.
The process is quite a bit more difficult if you have an older home without sewer cleanouts. In this case, there are typically only two options for accessing the sewer line. The first is to remove a toilet and then run the camera down through the plumbing stack and out into the sewer line. The other option is to go on the roof and feed the camera down through the vent stack and all the way out to the sewer line. If your home doesn’t have sewer cleanouts, we would highly recommend having them installed, as it will also help should you ever need to have your sewer line rooted or hydro-jetted to clear a clog.
If the camera inspection determines that the damage is minimal and the sewer line is mostly still in good shape, pipe lining can usually repair the damage and prevent the sewer line from leaking. Pipelining uses a flexible tube that is inflated through the entire length of the sewer line. The outside of the tube is coated in a strong epoxy that hardens once it is inside the pipe. As the epoxy begins to harden, it will fill in and repair any cracks or damage so that the line no longer leaks.
Options for Sewer Line Replacement
If your sewer line is severely damaged or leaking, your only option will be to have the damaged section or potentially the entire pipe replaced. Unfortunately, if the lower sewer lateral is damaged, you will then need to deal with the relevant local authorities as this typically involves tearing up part of the sidewalk and the street. Replacing the upper lateral may also require digging a large trench so that the pipe can be accessed and replaced.
However, there are situations when trenchless sewer line replacement may be an option. Trenchless sewer line repair is far less invasive and much easier as you don’t need to dig up the entire yard. This also typically makes it a much quicker and less expensive option.
Trenchless sewer repair uses a special directional boring machine and a heavy-duty winch. First, a hole is dug at the edge of the property line so that the sewer line can be accessed. The winch is placed inside the home, and then a cable is run from it through the length of the sewer line. At the other end of the line outside, a special wedge is attached to the cable. The winch then pulls this wedge through the line, which breaks up the pipe as it travels up and back toward the house. The next sewer pipe is also attached to the cable. As the wedge travels through the pipe, it breaks up the old line, and the new line is then laid directly into its place.
Trenchless sewer repair can be a great option if the conditions allow it to be possible. However, it can only be used to replace the upper lateral as, generally, the only way to access the lower lateral is to dig up the street.
How to Know If Your Sewer Line Needs Repaired or Replaced
If your sewer line is completely broken or collapsed, you should be able to tell quite quickly. In this case, the sewage and wastewater from your home won’t be able to travel out to the municipal sewer main. As a result, you will quickly start to have sewage backing up and flowing back out of your showers and floor drains.
Of course, this will also occur if your sewer line is completely clogged, which is why you will always need to have an inspection performed if you ever start having issues with sewage backups. Even if you’re not having issues with sewage backups, it is also a good idea to have your sewer line inspected if you notice that all of the drains in the home are slower than usual. The same is also true if you constantly hear bubbling or gurgling noises coming from your toilets or drains. All of these signs usually indicate that your sewer line is partially clogged, and you’ll want to get the line cleared before you do start having sewage backing up inside.
A slightly damaged sewer line will allow some sewage to leak out, but it often won’t cause sewage to back up in the home. As such, this problem can be a bit more difficult to spot. One fairly obvious indication is if you start smelling a strong sewage odor outside your home. A leaking sewer line will also often attract pests.
Another fairly obvious sign is if part of your yard is constantly wet or has standing water. You may also notice that the ground near your sewer line feels soft or spongy. A leaking sewer line will also often cause the grass or vegetation in the immediate vicinity to start growing more quickly and look much greener than the rest of the lawn. This is because all of the water and waste leaking out will nourish and fertilize the grass.
Aurora Pro Services Heating, Air, Plumbing, Electrical, & Roofing specializes in drain cleaning and sewer line services, and we can help if you have a clogged pipe or need your sewer line repaired or replaced. We also work on gas lines, water lines, and most plumbing fixtures and appliances, and our team can take care of any of your home’s heating, cooling, electrical, and roofing needs as well. For more information, or if you need any home service in the Greensboro area, contact us today.
