Sewer Repair Read This Before You Contact a Plumbing Contractor

Sewer pipelines will not last forever. Roots invade, drastic dramatic seasonal shifts burst seams, and general wear compromises the constitution of older lines. It's likely your house will stay standing longer than the fortitude of your sewer line, and that means the time will come when you will need to call a contracter.

Iron was previously the the main choice in plumbing pipes, including the lateral sewer line, which is the drain from your property into the city sewer main. When this pipe breaks, frequently the ideal decision is to replace the iron with new plastic pipe that will not be damaged as readily in the future.

Another modern sewer line replacement technique is called trenchless plumbing. This technique makes it possible to fix the sewer line without tearing up your landscaping. One variety of trenchless sewer line repair is called the "bursting method": Laborers will pull a new pipe through the existing, burst line. This further bursts the existing pipe to make room for the replacement.

Another trenchless sewer pipeline repair method is the "lining method." Using this method, contracters will insert a resin-coated tube through the broken sewer line and inflate it. This lining will then cover up any leaks in the existing pipe. Furthermore, the lining can easily be taken out and repaired (or switched out) when necessary.

Even with trenchless sewer line repair, it is possible for invasive roots to repeat their attack. In addition to repairing the damage in the line, plumbers may consider blocking root growth in the direction of the sewer pipeline for any nearby trees.

The price of sewer line repair dramatically varies depending on the contracter doing the work and how much work has to be done. Some sewer pipelines run underneath garages, driveways, or landscaping. Especially under these conditions, trenchless replacement can be a preferable alternative. When choosing a plumber, request estimates from at least 3 different bidders. Ensure that all of the estimates include exactly the same items. Contractors often charge significantly different prices for the same labor. Also make sure to get in writing the agreed-upon condition of your property after the work is finished. Put another way, if a contracter does have to dig a trench in your property or necessitate other cleanup work, it should be clear whose responsibility it is -- yours or theirs -- to get everything looking good again.

Any time you request a price quote for a sewer fix, get an idea of whether similar repairs will have to be have to be performed in the foreseeable future. Especially in older houses (or newer houses connecting to an older sewer pipe), it could be worth funding a total replacement project instead of little repairs, so that you won't have to stomach this same problem a year down the road. A lot of plumbing contracters such as sewer drain cleaning Tacoma WA provide a warranty on sewer line replacement, some of them for as long as you own the property.