Sewer Line Repair and Replacement

Signs of a sewer line problem

A single slow drain is usually a local clog. A sewer line problem shows up in more than one place at once. If the toilet gurgles when you run the washing machine, or several drains slow down together, the blockage or break is probably farther down the line, past the point where the fixtures join.

The most serious sign is wastewater coming up through the lowest drain in the house. Stop using water and call, because every additional flush adds to the backup.

• Several drains slow down or clog at the same time
• Gurgling from toilets or tubs when other fixtures run
• Sewage smell in the house or yard
• Wet, sunken or unusually green spots over the line
• Water or waste backing up from the lowest drain
• Repeated clogs that return soon after being cleared

Camera inspection and locating the line

Guessing at a sewer problem means digging in the wrong place. Rocket runs a camera down the drain to see the inside of the pipe: roots, a break, a sag where water collects or a collapsed section. The footage shows the problem rather than leaving it to speculation.

A locator then maps where the line runs underground, and how deep, so any work happens in the right spot. That matters most when the pipe passes under a driveway, a slab or landscaping you want to disturb as little as possible.

Repair or replace the sewer line

If the damage is limited to one section and the rest of the pipe is sound, repairing that section may be enough. If the line is cracked in several places, has shifted or is failing along its length, replacement is usually the longer-lasting answer. What the camera finds shows which case you are in.

Ask to see what the camera found and to hear why a technician recommends one route over the other. The decision should come from what is in the pipe, not from a sales script.

1. A camera inspection shows the condition of the line and where the problem sits.
2. A locator marks the path and depth of the pipe underground.
3. The repair or replacement is agreed, with any permit arranged.
4. The damaged section is exposed and repaired or replaced.
5. The new pipe is checked for slope and flow before it is covered.
6. The area is backfilled and the work is inspected where required.

Replacing a drain under a slab

Some drain problems are below a concrete floor, in a basement or on a slab-on-grade home. Rocket can cut the slab to replace the drain: the camera and locator pinpoint the line, then the concrete is opened over it, the old pipe is removed and a new one is installed.

That is more involved than clearing a clog, but it fixes the problem instead of repeating it. Ask how the opening will be sized, how the floor will be patched and who handles finish flooring afterward.

Permits and why call Rocket

Sewer line repair and replacement generally needs a permit, and the city inspects the work. Rocket can pull the permit for these jobs. Rules differ by city, so ask what your address requires.

Rocket is a locally owned West Jordan team of Bill and Kyle Bashford, and you can call or text to describe what the drains are doing.