If the sewer line on your property fails, it’s your responsibility to fix the problem and delaying the repair isn’t advisable. A cracked or broken sewer line is a significant health hazard, and the waste can even back up into your home. If your sewer line is causing problems, there are a number of steps that need to be followed to make sure the repair is effective and that the minimum amount of disruption is caused to the home. Let’s take a closer look at what happens during a typical sewer line repair.
Evaluating the Scale of the Problem
Many homeowners contact their local certified plumber after a sewage backup into the home or because they’ve noticed damp and foul smelling patches in their yard. These circumstances and many others are a sure sign that there is a problem in the sewer line, and further investigation is required to pinpoint the cause. The first step is to insert a fiber optic camera into the sewer line to locate any cracks or breaks that need repair. The camera can also find any persistent clogs that may have caused the sewage to back up into the home. In some cases, the clog can be cleared, and the sewer line can be quickly restored to normal. But, in other cases, a sewer line will need to be repaired due to a crack or break caused by a shifting pipe or an intruding tree root system.
Choosing the Correct Repair Method
The situation needs to be carefully assessed, the location of the break, the landscaping, and the weather conditions are all important factors to consider. The plumber will choose the best method to get the repair fixed quickly and avoid any unnecessary disruption to the home. A work permit will be sourced from the city, and a utility company will mark the gas and water lines in the area to avoid damage. In some cases a trenchless repair may be possible, this uses a pipe lining to repair the pipe, and it causes the minimum amount of damage to the surrounding area. If a trench is necessary, this will take more time, and the extra work will cost more.
The Repair Time
Many homeowners are understandably keen to know how long the sewer line will take. This can be a hard question to answer before a camera inspection because the location and extent of the damage will affect how long it will take to repair the line. A more extensive repair that would require a trench and the replacement of sections of sewer line might take 2-3 days to complete. This would include digging the trench, carrying out the repair or replacement, the subsequent SPU inspection and refilling the trench. But, in many cases, this level of work would not be required, and the sewer line repair might take a few hours to finish.
If you suspect that you have a problem with your sewer line, contact your
local certified plumber for expert help and advice today.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
