Sewer Line Repair and Replacement Process

Intact water and sewer lines are important to living in a comfortable and clean home. Whether it is an overflowing toilet that spills sewage, a faulty sewer line or backed up tank that causes sewage damage, it can have devastating effects on your home. Besides contaminating different areas of your home, sewage also causes several health problems.

This is where the role of professional sewer drain inspection comes into play. Certified professionals, such as Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter, can help you conduct sewer line cleaning and disinfect your house.

The professional plumbers at Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter, understand that a sewer leak with messy cleanup and unpleasant smell of a sewer pipe can be frustrating. It is challenging for homeowners to pinpoint the underlying causes of sewage problems.

If you want to prevent sewer line clog or sewer line damage, learning what causes them to break is important. Keep on reading to determine what breaks or causes the repair to your sewer line and how you can repair or replace them.

Sewer Line Inspection, Repair and Replacement

How to Know if Your Sewer Line is Leaking

To prevent sewer line damage, you must know how to identify or spot the underlying causes that lead to sewer line damage. Look for the following signs to spot a damaged sewer line to call sewer line repair or replacement professionals on time.

  • Strange gurgling and bubbling noises from your toilet
  • Noticeable/constant sewage backup in toilet or tub
  • The slow draining tub or no slow drain
  • Water shortage in the toilet(s)
  • Significantly greener patches near a sewage pipe
  • Sewer odor in the yard, basement, or other areas of the property
  • Flooded yard

a. Causes of Sewer and Drain Problems

As mentioned above, when sewage is backed up from sewer main lines into homes through drain pipelines, it causes expensive damage and creates several health hazards. There are plenty of factors that may cause sewer line repair or sewer line replacement. Here are some causes of sewer and drain problems.

Some of them include:

Sewer Main Line

A blockage in a city’s sanitary main can occur due to any reason. If this blockage is not fixed in time, sewage water from the main sanitary backs up into homes through floor drains. Generally, it happens slowly and gives homeowners enough time to seek the help of a plumber to check the damage.

Blockage due to Shrubs and Tree Roots

Trees and shrubs seeking moisture often extend into sewer lines and cracks, and may cause extensive damage. They are small and can quickly get into the tiny cracks in the drain lines. But as shrubs and trees continue to grow, the roots enter the pipes and cause severe blockage.

Standing Waters in Home Basement

Basement flooding leads to water flowing to the building and the foundation. Water deteriorates the cement floor, walls, and slowly damages the structure. This may cause sewage back up after a massive rainstorm.

Flooding

Even if there is no floodwater in your house, the water may flow into the sewer lines. Note that a sewer backup that flooding causes may contain more than normal waste. If there is a power failure during the flood, the issue may get even worse. Several sewer plants and treatment stations use power to seal return valves. If they fail, waste flows back into pipes.

Remember that sewage comprises wastewater, which is hazardous to health and the environment. If raw sewage somehow gets into the groundwater, it may cause severe health problems. The dirty water, debris, or waste carries potentially harmful microorganisms that make them a health hazard. Moreover, the harmful solids contain toxic chemicals that can damage water bodies supporting wildlife.

Marlowe SchneidkrautMarlowe Schneidkraut
15:43 29 Jun 23
Easy to set up an appointment. Came on time and called ahead when they were enroute. Work was done promptly and professionally. Technician kept working area clean and cleaned up after service.
Pat PerrinePat Perrine
02:40 15 Jun 23
Professional and on time. Diagnosed the problem and gave several alternatives for repair.
Bob AbrahamBob Abraham
15:19 11 May 23
By far the best and most reliable company I've ever used. I've had nothing but good experiences with their plumbing services as well as their Air Conditioning Service. Professional in every sense of the way. Would absolutely recommend them to anyone who wants honest reasonably priced services. Thank you so much.
Thomas StevensThomas Stevens
01:12 05 Apr 23
Very professional and incredibly responsive. We were without hot water and they took care of our situation incredibly quickly. It was not a simple process and they put in overtime to get us done. Very happy and will certainly use them again.
Rebecca ZemlynRebecca Zemlyn
01:41 24 Mar 23
Wonderful experience today with the 65 point plumbing inspection. Gave me peace of mind & I know they will be back to take care of any issues. Loyal customer for heating & air services. Now, with the introduction of plumbing, I know where to go for honest, quality service. True professionals!
Lisa CallLisa Call
04:08 19 Feb 23
These guys are great! They were prompt, courteous and knowledgeable. And they are careful to not leave a mess (and they even use shoe covers to walk around in your house)! What more could you ask for? A great experience and I will use them again!
Linn GriffinLinn Griffin
04:30 08 Feb 23
Conejo Valley replaced our A/C and furnace in 2014, and just replaced our 20 year old tank water heater today. We switched from tank to tankless and were very impressed with the work. The technicians were very knowledgeable and organized; for us, the installation took only 3 hours as the space was pretty easy to access. I highly recommend Conejo Valley! The office called as soon as they left to check on how the installation went. Great customer service. To the technicians, thanks for your hard work!
Terry HunsakerTerry Hunsaker
03:16 07 Feb 23
Exceptional service from making an appointment with Nancy to Nick repairing leak under kitchen sink. Extremely professional, arrived on time, wear booties (not necessary for me), offered to wear a mask, respectful and neat. Reasonable fair pricing which turned out to be nothing major. I will use them again if needed. Thank you.
Fred GARDERESFred GARDERES
17:29 22 Jan 23
Our 20 year old furnace broke down for good over the Christmas break. And it got wet and cold…This team was able to come and quote a new heating system and have it installed, in under 6 days!They were on time, very respectful, and kept us posted continuously throughout the project.We would definitely use them again, and we strongly recommend them!
Michael MartinezMichael Martinez
00:42 07 Jan 23
Art did an excellent job. He stayed late on a rainy day to ensure my drain was working. He talked me thru the entire process and took the extra time to locate the issue and fix it as best he could. He got our drain working and gave us the long term solution and cost. I’d definitely use this company and specifically Art again.
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b. Causes of Sewer Line Damage

From minor wear and tear to clogged pipes, here is what can cause sewer line damage.

Tree Roots

As mentioned above, tree roots follow water sources when they grow near the sewer lines. As a sewer line carries liquid waste, tree roots are attracted to them naturally. It is especially true if there are small leaks in the pipes. If roots come in contact with the sewer pipes, they wrap around them and may cause breakage.

In addition to that, roots can cause severe weakening, clogging, and structure breakage. Particularly, it is common in homes with older construction as they mostly have clay sewer pipes and are most susceptible to damages from roots.

Corroded Pipes

Though sewer pipes are steel-made and galvanized to avert rust, they are prone to corroding due to magnesium and calcium buildup and regular wear and tear. If you leave corrosion untreated, it leaves the pipe prone to cracks and leaks.

Clogged Pipes Due to Foreign Objects

The sewage lines of your home can handle soft objects like toilet paper and human waste. However, you should avoid flushing hard wrappers and towels as they can disintegrate and cause blockages. They are hard to fix with drain cleaning agents.

Even items like grease and cooking oil can clog sewer pipes if you pour them into the sink. You should pour the liquids into the containers or dispose of them in the trash can.

Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures such as cold weather can freeze the pipes.

The frozen pipes may burst if ice expands. It is worth mentioning that it is not only cold weather that may cause the sewer line to rupture, as extreme heat has a similar effect.

What to Expect During a Sewer Line Inspection

If there is a break or leak in the sewer line, it is essential to repair it. Typically, you can choose two options. You can either dig a small trench around the pipe or opt for trenchless sewer line repairs. Put simply, the options given below are two methods you can expect during a sewer line inspection.

Pipelining

Though sewer drain inspection determines minimal damage, the plumbing experts such as Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter recommend pipelining. They will inflate a tube and press against it on the existing line. When it is up against the sewage line, the hardness and epoxy cures repair the leaks. Experts then remove the inflatable tubes.

Pipe Bursting

It destroys the pipe to replace it with a new one. The process is less time-effective and more expensive but doesn’t require heavy or extensive excavation. When your home’s sewer line is too damaged to apply the pipelining technique or simply clean it out, you can opt for invasive trenchless repairs. This sewer line cleaning technique makes a cone-shaped bit via an existing line.

However, if the sewer lines have damage beyond repairs, you can resort to traditional sewer line replacement techniques. The methods are not only costly but also extremely invasive. Technicians or professional sewer line experts need to dig up the yard to find the broken or damaged lines. Keep in mind that excavation is mandatory if your home’s sewage system has experienced extensive damages.

Benefits of a Sewer Line Inspection

Thanks to camera inspection technology, you can find what is going on inside your plumbing system. Sewer line inspection is exactly what it sounds like: it helps detect anything from clogs to leaks. Read the given reasons to find why sewer line inspection is beneficial for your home.

Locates a Water Break or Leak

There are plenty of telltale signs of leaks and water breaks to spot damages that need sewer line repairs or replacement. Several hidden clues can show that something isn’t right with your drainage or plumbing system.

Though the not-so-subtle signs are enough to locate the areas where water is escaping the pipes, a sewer line inspection can help you find the exact location.

Eliminates the Need of Unnecessary Digging

The idea of making a small hole in the yard isn’t bad until the hole turns into a 4-foot trench. It may become even worse if plumbers still find it hard to locate the leak. Sewer line inspection by the experts like Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter, on the other hand, is less intrusive. It eliminates the excessive digging and the higher cost in your lawn or yard.

Determines the Exact Condition of Pipes

The entire plumbing inner work of your home is out of sight most of the time. Monitoring the pipes’ condition at all times is important, especially when you need sewer line replacement. The inspection process uses a camera which is typically non-intrusive and helps determine the exact condition of the pipes.

It is essential, especially when you buy a new property and want to know ahead if pipes are at risk of corrosion or collapse. It can prevent costly repairs and impending emergencies.

Sewer Line Repair vs. Sewer Line Replacement

If the sewer line of your home has cracks, go for sewer line repair. However, if the damages are severe, you should opt for sewer line replacement, according to experts. Qualified plumbers from Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter conduct a pipe leak test using traditional or trenchless sewer repair.

Trenchless Sewer Repair

Trenchless sewer repairing is the modern method with its easy-to-handle and cost-effective procedure, which has replaced the conventional trench replacement option.

It saves you from having to dig long trenches. Also, you don’t have to wait for months to get approval to reroute the water lines.

In fact, it is a convenient way of subsurface construction and requires merely a few trenches. Advanced technology in plumbing is trending these days. It is defined as a family of materials, methods, and equipment to be used for installation, rehabilitation, or underground replacement purposes to build new infrastructure.

If you are looking for minimal excavation in your yard, these are some trenchless construction methods to choose from according to your requirements:

  • Microtunneling
  • Tunneling
  • Directional Boring
  • Pipe Jacking
  • Pipe Ramming
  • Directional Drilling
  • Moiling

Sewer Line Replacement

As mentioned above, if sewer pipes have extensive damages that require replacement, leaving it to experts is the best way to get the traditional sewer line replacement done. The plumbing professionals first prepare a schematic diagram to map out the damage and the techniques needed for sewer line replacement.

Average Cost for a Sewer Line Inspection, Repair, and Replacement

The average cost homeowners need to pay for sewer line repair is $2,556. However, it may increase or decrease from $1,073 to $4,055, depending on the severity of the damage. Homeowners who choose a full replacement may have to spend $3,000-$25,000.

How to Protect Your Sewer Lines

Note that not all types of sewer damages are preventable. However, there are steps to slow down the rate of damage.

Seek the assistance of professionals to get a sewer line inspection of your sewage system once a year. It helps ensure that your sewage system is working well. You can opt for a camera inspection that goes inside of the sewer pipe to check for blockages or corrosion.

Though an already-existing leak or crack in the pipe often causes a root invasion in the sewer lines, removing the trees from the surrounding area after replacing or repairing the pipe is always beneficial. It ensures that the same problem will not arise in the future.

As described above, disposing of toilet paper and human waste in the sewer lines causes blockages. Therefore, you need to be careful and use the sewage system properly.

Why Choose Our Sewer Line Inspection Services

Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter only provides state-of-the-art and professional plumbing services. The exceptional sewer drain inspection, sewer line repair, and replacement services are a matter of record with all the major accredited plumbing associations.

Our professionals inspect the sewer lines or health of drains to help you make an informed decision if you should replace or repair them. Choosing us for routine maintenance helps you avoid costly repairs and replacements.

Call us today or visit us online to have your blocked or clogged sewer lines problems handled by our professionals.

Our innovative solution

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  • Re-Pipe Specialists
  • Sewer Inspection

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Why Choose Our
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