The Most Common Sewer Line Problems and Repairs

Your home’s sewer line is the conduit that connects your plumbing system with the greater municipal sewer system. If a blockage or break occurs somewhere along the line, you could have quite a problem on your hands. Without an open channel to the sewer system, your home’s wastewater could back up in your drains and plumbing fixtures or leach into your lawn.

Usually, sewer line repair is the homeowner’s responsibility. Below is some information about the problems that most commonly afflict residential sewer lines and what you can expect to pay to have them resolved. It’s not all bad news, though. We’ll also explain how you can help to prevent problems from arising in the first place.

 

Common Sewer Line Problems

Sewer line issues basically come down to clogs and breaks or ruptures in the pipe, but the circumstances and causes can vary. Here’s a breakdown of the most common sewer line problems.

• Clogs and Blockages

Sewer lines, just like any other pipes in a home plumbing system, are susceptible to clogs. Standard sewer lines are often only four inches in diameter, so an accumulation of solid materials can easily create a blockage.

A clog doesn’t have to completely obstruct the flow of wastewater to cause an issue. Your sewer line could have a partial obstruction that still allows for some wastewater to pass, but the flow could be inhibited enough to still cause plumbing backups and pipe leakages. 

What causes a sewer line blockage? It could be a number of things. Common culprits are wipes, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and similar items that aren’t designed to be flushed down the toilet. Hair and other organic materials also cause clogs over time. Blockages are also worsened by fats and grease, which can bind with solid materials to form fatbergs. This is why you should never dispose of cooking oils, bacon grease, and so on by pouring it down the sink or flushing it down the toilet.

• Underground Obstructions

Sometimes blockages stem from the sewer line’s surrounding environment. For example, tree roots can interfere with sewer lines. Expanding root networks can tangle with and stress underground plumbing lines. Fine roots can weasel into tiny openings where pipes are jointed or slightly corroded, gradually growing until an outright blockage develops.

Burrowing animals can also pose trouble. If there’s already a small crack or opening in the sewer line, dirt and minerals can gradually accumulate.  

• Corrosion

Modern homes typically have plastic sewer lines, which are durable and can withstand moisture in the ground and freezing and thawing cycles. Older homes may have cast iron or clay pipes, which are more susceptible to corrosion, particularly as they age. Clay pipes can become brittle over time, and cracks eventually appear. Iron pipes can succumb to rust, which can create fine openings and ruptures. 

As corrosion worsens, wastewater is more likely to leach into the surrounding soil. More severe pipe breakages are also increasingly likely as the pipe material weakens.

• External Damage

Another factor that can precipitate sewer line repair and replacement is sudden damage from some external source. Digging equipment, for example, can sever or damage a sewer line. A tree uprooted in a storm can cause damage on its way down, either from the downward pressure of the trunk or upward pressure of the roots. For that matter, any natural disaster, from earthquakes to tornadoes, can directly or indirectly result in damage to underground pipes.

• Broken, Collapsed, or Sagging Pipes

Shifting ground is a notable cause for sewer line issues. Prolonged drought, flooding, or even minor sinkholes or tremors can change how the soil sits on your property. Even slight shifts can change the slope of the sewer line, and more severe shifts can result in breakages or sagging. In some cases, a sagging pipe can cause something called a belly, or a rounded dip in which wastewater and debris collects. 

Diagnosing Sewer Line Problems

There are a few telltale signs of sewer line trouble to look out for:

• Slow drainage throughout the house. One slow drain usually indicates a local clog. Multiple slow drains, especially in different rooms or on different floors, suggests a sewer line problem. 
• Multiple drain and toilet backups. Similarly, backups that afflict multiple plumbing fixtures around your home speak to a generalized plumbing issue, such as a sewer line clog.
• Foul odors. If unpleasant odors emanate from your home’s plumbing fixtures and drains, your wastewater likely is draining incorrectly. You may also notice the smell of sewage outside, which typically means wastewater is seeping into your lawn.
• Patches of lush, green grass. Wastewater seeping into the soil on your property can act almost like fertilizer. A patch of grass that is greener or growing faster than the surrounding grass on your lawn means there is probably an underground sewer line or septic tank leak.

Some sewer line issues will be easy to diagnose. If you’re smelling unpleasant odors outside shortly after yard construction or a tree falling down, there’s probably a localized pipe break or rupture. If your plumbing fixtures are backing up but there are no foul odors outside or lush patches of grass, there’s probably a clog in the system nearer your home. 

How to Resolve Sewer Line Issues

Depending on the nature of the problem, you might be able to save on your sewer line repair cost and resolve the issue on your own. First, use a plunger and plumber’s snake on your home’s drains and toilets to dislodge any clogs that might be present. 

If that doesn’t resolve your problem but you still suspect a clog somewhere in the line, check out your home’s sewer or plumbing cleanout. You might find this outside or inside, near where your home’s plumbing system meets the municipal sewer line. It could look like a pipe extending from the ground, often with a square knob or plastic cap. Open the cleanout with a wrench and check inside with a flashlight for any signs of blockages or backups. While wearing some gloves—and maybe a facemask and safety glasses—use an auger or plumber’s snake to dislodge the blockage. 

Some might recommend pouring hot water into the cleanout or adding a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. You might find success with these methods, but if the clog is bad enough to resist an auger or plumber’s snake, you might find hot water or vinegar mixtures to be ineffective.

If you manage to remove a clog, flush the cleanout with your hose to get rid of any lingering debris. Then securely close the cleanout and check your home’s plumbing fixtures to confirm your problem is resolved.

You might have a harder time taking the DIY approach to fixing a sewer line that has suffered from corrosion, sagging, breaking, or collapse. Ultimately, a professional will likely need to come in to dig up and repair or line or lay new line using a trenchless install, which doesn’t require digging. 

 

Cost Considerations for Sewer Line Repairs

Sewer line costs can vary significantly. Here are some factors that can dictate the price:

• Length of the line. Professionals often charge by the foot to install or repair a sewer line. Anywhere between $50 to $250 per foot is typical. If your sewer line has to run a considerable distance before reaching the municipal sewer system, you’re looking at a larger bill.
• Pipe lining vs. pipe bursting. There are a couple of ways of replacing an old sewer line with a trenchless line. One method is pipe lining, which involves coating the inside of the existing pipe with an epoxy or resin that hardens into a new pipe. Another method requires bursting the original pipe into smaller pieces to make space for a new trenchless line. The pipe bursting method may slightly inflate your trenchless sewer line repair cost. 
• Labor costs. If the work crew encounters issues that drive up the hours the job requires, your labor costs will increase. Tree and rock removal, for example, could require specialized equipment and a substantial time investment to manage.
• Permits and inspections. Sewer line installs and significant repairs usually require permits from your town or city, which could drive up costs by a few hundred dollars at least. Some localities also require inspections after the fact, which could involve extending a camera down the line to confirm the absence of code violations and other issues. 

The factors at play make it difficult to estimate a broken or collapsed sewer line repair cost. Even your regional cost of living comes into play. As a ballpark estimate, expect to pay around $5,000 for a spot repair. If you need to install or replace the full line, $25,000 isn’t outside the realm of possibility for a trenchless install. You might save a little bit by going with a traditional install that requires digging a trench.

Preventative Measures for Sewer Line Maintenance

Whether you have new or aging sewer line, there are a few preventative considerations to keep it in good shape:

• Never flush wipes, hygiene products, paper towels, or diapers.
• Don’t pour fats and greases into your drains and toilets.
• Remove trees and large shrubs that could have root networks that interfere with your sewer line.
• Have a pro install backwater prevention valves.
• Follow a regular maintenance schedule for your drains, plumbing system, sewer line, and septic.

Home Warranty for Sewer Line

Remember that you can better position yourself to save on plumbing repairs by investing in a home warranty. A home warranty from Liberty Home Guard can provide broad plumbing coverage to protect your fixtures and pipes and help you affordably resolve clogs, blockages, and other issues. Get started by calling (866)-983-0874.