If your home is connected to a sewer system, there is a sewer line that bridges the gap between your home's drains and the main sewer drain. This line is located under the ground of your yard and is considered part of your plumbing system and your responsibility for maintenance and repairs.
What is a sewer line? The plumbing line that removes waste and wastewater out of your home is called a sewer line. Simply put, sewer lines carry waste from a place where it is unwanted to a place where it can be treated or disposed of.
Professional plumbers have extensive training and years of experience in dealing with a wide range of sewer line issues. They know how to accurately diagnose the problem and implement the most effective solution to fix your sewer line correctly the first time.
Professional plumbers can use various camera styles to inspect the sewer line, such as: Remote-controlled crawler cameras. Pole or fixed zoom cameras. Push rod cameras.
Cost Estimates
As we mentioned earlier, in the state of California, the cost of sewer line replacement can amount to anywhere between $50-$250 per linear foot, with an average of around $150.
In most cases, home insurance will cover sewer line damage from specific events. This includes extreme weather (excluding earthquakes and floods), vandalism, fire, and damage from vehicles or falling objects.
Trenchless sewer repairs, such as pipe lining or pipe bursting, are typically 30-40% less expensive than traditional excavation and less invasive. Traditional excavation, which involves digging a trench to access the damaged pipe, is usually more expensive and can cause significant damage to your yard.
Because the problem is external to your home, but still on your property, you will require a drainage expert if you have trouble with sewers and drains outside of your home. Plumbers are not usually equipped to handle your sewer pipes so professional drainage experts are the best people to call for sewer issues.
An obvious sign of a sewer issue is if you see sewage pooling in your yard. A lingering foul smell and puddles that don't dry up indicate you might have a cracked main sewer line. Pest Invasion. A damaged sewer line can also invite unwanted pests into your home.
Professionals use power-assisted plumbing augers that can easily break apart clogs in a sewer line. Water Jet – Sewer line cleaning with high-pressure water jets breaks up debris by shooting water at a high speed through your pipes.
This pipe, which lies buried under the soil of your yard, can last anywhere from 50-100 years or more, depending on the material from which the pipe is made and the conditions under which it is used.
While most water utility companies separate the two utilities, others charge one lump sum for both services. If your utility company bills them collectively, check your invoice, find the itemized section, and search for words like “sewage,” “treatment,” and “collection.”
With a clogged basement drain, pouring Drano or similar products down your sewer drain can actually damage your pipes or the glue holding them together, causing more sewer system problems in the future.
If you have a mainline or sewer line break, it is best to let the professionals fix it.
Spoiler alert: you probably don't need insurance for your water or sewer lines. Companies that sell service line insurance have no problem telling you how many thousands of dollars it can cost to repair your water or sewer lines. And they're happy to remind you that your homeowners insurance won't cover the costs.
And while we understand that there are plumbers who rod sewers and clear drains, many times they do not have machines with the large cutter blades necessary to fully and effectively rod your sewer. In fact, we have relationships with several local plumbers who recommend us to their clients, and vice versa.
Does homeowners insurance cover your sewer line if it's damaged? Damage to your sewer line may be covered by your policy if it is caused by perils such as hail or windstorms, explosions, lightning or fire, damages caused by vehicles, vandalism or falling objects.
All the drains in your home lead to one main sewer line, which goes into the municipal system or to your septic tank system. Knowing the location of your sewer line is crucial, especially when issues arise involving clogs, backups or breaks.
Sewer pipe cracks are serious problems that can lead to property damage, soil pollution, and mold-related health issues. Sewer gas leaks can also cause people to experience headaches, dizziness, sinus infections, and more.
If your home is connected to a sewer system, there is a sewer line that bridges the gap between your home's drains and the main sewer drain. This line is located under the ground of your yard and is considered part of your plumbing system and your responsibility for maintenance and repairs.
Cleaning out a sewer line doesn't have to be cost-prohibitive. According to a . net plumbing job estimator, the national average charge for a professional to service your sewer line is $196-$289. The lower end for a straightforward drain cleaning is $55, with the maximum around $1300.
Tree roots can grow into and obstruct the sewer lines; or extraordinary amounts of rainfall can infiltrate the system and overload it. The courts have made it clear that the city is liable for sewer back-up damages if, and only if, the city's negligence causes damages.
For instance, residential sewer line depth ranges from 18 to 30 inches. However, city sewer line depths are different. Your city's sewer lines must always be deeper than the deepest residential pipe to allow waste to flow downhill. As such, these lines can go as deep as needed.
Typically, to replace a sewer line it can take anywhere from 1 to 2 days, to 3 to 5 days. In some rare cases, it may even be as quick as one day. Generally, the estimated time frame will depend on the layout of your property, your home's piping system, and the depth required to excavate.
Sewer work is expensive because of the labor-intensive process involved, which includes excavation, pipe removal, and installation of a new one. It requires significant manual labor and expertise, driving up the overall cost.