Burst Sewer Lines Read This Before Contacting a Plumbing Contractor

When older sewer lines demand repairs, they pose a few major challenges for their current homeowners -- and frequently even for the plumbers that get hired for the professional jobs.

Iron was once the the first choice in plumbing pipelines, including the lateral sewer line, which is the drain from your home into the sewer main. When this pipe breaks, often the optimal course of action is to replace the iron with new polyethylene pipe that will not be destroyed as readily in the future.

Another contemporary sewer line replacement technique is called trenchless plumbing. This technique enables a professional to fix the sewer line without digging a trench. One type of trenchless sewer line repair is called the "bursting method": Laborers will thread a new pipe through the existing, ruptured line. This further bursts the old pipe to make room for the replacement.

A second trenchless sewer line repair technique is the "lining method." Using this strategy, contracters will place a flexible tube through the existing sewer line and inflate it. This lining will then cover up any leaks in the existing pipe. Furthermore, the lining can easily be removed and fixed (or switched out) when necessary.

Even with trenchless sewer line repair, it is possible for invasive roots to repeat their attack. In addition to fixing the ruptures in the line, property owners may consider impeding root growth toward the sewer pipe for any nearby trees.

The price of sewer line repair substantially changes depending on the company doing the labor and how much labor has to be done. Some sewer lines run beneath garages, driveways, or landscaping. Especially under such circumstances, trenchless replacement can be a worthwhile alternative. When choosing a plumbing company, get estimates from at least 2 different bidders. Make sure all of the estimates include exactly the same items. Plumbers often charge very different rates for similar parts. Also make sure you get in writing the agreed-upon condition of your property once the work is all done. Put another way, if a plumber does have to dig a trench in your yard or necessitate other cleanup work, it should be clear whose responsibility it is -- theirs or yours -- to get everything looking good again.

Whenever you get a price quote for a sewer fix, have a sense of whether it's likely more repairs will have to be have to be performed in the very near future. Especially underneath older properties (or newer properties connecting to an older sewer pipe), it may be worth paying for an entire replacement project instead of minor repairs, so that you won't have to face this same hassle 3 years from now. Many plumbing companies such as sewer repair near me Tacoma WA offer a warranty on sewer line replacement, some of them for as long as you own the home.