Sewer Line Repair | 24/7 Sewer Line Repair & Plumbing

St. Louis, MO Sewer line repairs used to mean digging up your whole yard and having your water shut off for hours or days. But not anymore. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we use new, unintrusive methods like pipe bursting and pipe lining to minimize your water's downtime and the impact on your lawn.

We're available 24/7, so as soon as you notice a problem, call us at 314-972-2233 or get in touch online. Fix it early and prevent further damage to your home.

On this page, we'll go over:

6 Signs of sewer line damage to watch out for
Common causes of sewer line damage
How Drain Cleaning St. Louis repairs broken sewer lines
What you can do to prevent damage to your sewer lines
Frequently asked sewer line repair questions

This guide exists to help you with identifying a sewer line break, finding the cause, and understanding what repairs will look like. Whatever water or sewer issues you're facing, Drain Cleaning St. Louis offers plumbing services to help.

6 Sewer Line Damage Signs to Watch Out For:

It's not always obvious when your sewer line is damaged, which makes it all the more important to know what to look for. Any one of the below signs on its own may be from something else, but the more that add up, the more likely it is that your St. Louis, MO sewer line needs repairs:

Odor/Smell - A persistent sewage smell, particularly in your backyard, is the most obvious sign of a broken sewer line. Breathing it excessively can have negative health effects.
Gurgling - If air is entering your home's plumbing through a damaged sewer line, gurgling can occur throughout the house.
Slow Drain - Slow drains across all of your home's plumbing are a sign of sewer line damage, particularly if they are still slow after cleaning.
Green and/or Soggy Yard - Leaking water and sewage can create wet spots that fertilize the lawn, creating puddles and extra green patches of grass.
Pests - Insects and rodents are attracted to broken sewer lines. They can both live in the damp parts of the yard, and possibly crawl up the pipe into your home.
Major Water Bill Fluctuation - Unexpected spikes in water bills can be the result of a broken sewer pipe, constantly draining your water throughout the month.

Common Sewer Line Damage Causes:

Maybe you suspect that your sewer line is damaged, but you're not sure how it happened. There are a variety of ways that sewer lines can break in St. Louis, but the most common are:

Wear and Tear - Over time, particularly if grease or cleaning chemicals have gone down your drains, the pipes will weaken and corrode.
Blockages/Clogs - If the line becomes clogged, that can increase pressure and erosion, leading to cracks and bursts.
Tree Roots - Tree roots will be attracted to the moist, nutrient-rich environment of an existing sewer line break, and can then extend into the pipe, exacerbating the problem.

With proper installation and maintenance, sewer line repairs should not be frequently required. When they are needed, though, choosing the right repair method is important to minimize the cost and impact on your day-to-day life.

How We Repair St. Louis, MO Sewer Lines

At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we cover all your home's plumbing and sewer line repair/cleaning needs. When our expert plumbers first arrive at your home, we'll check in with you to understand the issue and then conduct an inspection to identify the problem. We check for leaks using a top-of-the-line drain camera to see all throughout your pipes, and can confirm if the sewer line is broken.

After we've identified a broken sewer line, our technicians pick an appropriate repair method for the situation. If possible, we will avoid digging up your yard with one of the following trenchless sewer line repair methods:

Pipe Bursting - A process in which a new pipe is pulled through your old one, breaking the former sewer line apart and replacing it with a new one, right in the same place. This allows the process to be performed with minimal holes dug in your yard.
Pipe Lining - Similar to pipe bursting, this also works with the existing pipes to minimize disruptions. However, instead of outright replacing the old sewer line, with a pipe lining method, you reinforce it with a smaller tube. This tube is measured to fit snuggly in the old line, will be glued in place with epoxy, and allows your sewer flow to continue past the break.
Sectional Pipe Point Repair - Sectional pipe point repair is very similar to pipe lining, since it also involves pulling a section of sealant or liner through the existing pipe. The main difference is that while pipe lining tends to cover a large section of the existing pipe, point repairs are specifically targeted at cracks and damaged areas.

Each of these methods helps us fix your property faster, with fewer disruptions. Sewer line repairs no longer need to be a full-day or multi-day endeavor that disrupts your routine and wrecks your landscape. Now, it can be done quicker and cheaper than ever before.

While some sewer lines will need more conventional replacement or repair methods, we always check to see if a trenchless option is possible. And however we conduct your repairs, we reconnect and test your pipes again afterwards, to make sure everything is working correctly now.

Preventing Damage to Your St. Louis, MO Sewer Lines

To get the longest life out of your sewer line, you'll want to take proper care of it. There are some simple steps you can take to minimize wear and tear and prevent future damage to your sewer line:

Don't Discard Solids Down the Drain - The same goes for oils and greases. These are common sources of clogs, friction, and other damage to your whole home's plumbing system, and can hit your sewer line especially hard, since everything eventually goes through it. Put solids in the trash or compost.
Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners - Some chemical cleaners can be effective, but damaging to your pipes in the process. Others just worsen the clog. If you have a blockage, you can try pouring warm salt water down the drain, and if that doesn't work, call a reputable St. Louis plumber to evaluate the clog.
Manage Tree Roots - If you're considering planting or moving a tree on your property, check where the sewer lines run before deciding on its new location. You can also install root barriers around your pipes to block them from invading the pipe.
Get A Backflow Preventer - Depending on your specific property and plumbing system, it might be necessary to get a backflow preventer. This stops water from going backwards through the sewage line into your home's plumbing system. Many homes already naturally prevent this, but older systems, those with pools, or those using well water all benefit greatly from backflow preventers.
Repair Other Issues Promptly - Clogs in one of your pipes lead to friction, which can increase wear and tear throughout the system. Fixing smaller issues promptly stops them from contributing to larger damage.
Regular Maintenance/Inspections - Most houses benefit from having their pipes inspected every one to two years, or more often for older plumbing systems. A quick inspection helps you get ahead of issues before they happen, saving you money and time in the long run.

St. Louis Sewer Line Repair FAQs

St. Louis homeowners who are concerned about sewer line damage have questions - and we have answers. Check out our responses to some of the most common questions on sewer line repair:

Who is responsible for a broken sewer line?

Generally, the property owner is responsible for repairing broken sewer lines. Even for sections that are not on your property, until the pipe reaches the sewer main, it's typically the homeowner's responsibility to repair.

Does homeowners' insurance cover sewer line repairs?

This will depend on the specific policy and situation. Typically, home insurance will cover sewer line repairs if they result from a specific event, like extreme weather or a fire. However, wear and tear, tree roots, or poor maintenance are normally not covered.

Is a broken sewer pipe an emergency?

A broken sewer line is an emergency if it is leaking sewage into your yard or backflowing into your home's plumbing system. This is because of the potential adverse effects it can have on your health and well-being.

How long can a broken sewer line go undetected?

Sewer line breaks can go undetected for long periods of time - for smaller leaks, it can take months, or even years, to notice. Paying attention to the key signs of damage and setting up regular maintenance is critical to identify damage early.

What is the cheapest way to repair a sewer line?

If available, a trenchless repair method (like pipe lining or pipe bursting) is the cheapest way to repair or replace a sewer line. Consult with a professional St. Louis plumber to find out if one of these options is right for your property.

Are sewer and water pipes the same?

No, they are not — while they may be made of the same material, water pipes take clean water into your home, while sewer pipes carry out wastewater. Sewer lines tend to be made of sturdier material to handle the contaminants, and rely on gravity (as opposed to water pressure)

Get Your Sewer Line Repaired Today - Call Drain Cleaning St. Louis

If your sewer line is damaged, or you're not sure and need to set up an inspection, Drain Cleaning St. Louis has got your back. When you work with us, you're getting:

Experienced Plumbing Specialists - We have over a decade of experience plumbing in St. Louis, and our team is experts in all things plumbing.
Emergency Plumbing Response - For major pipe bursts or sewer line breaks, we act fast to fix your home's plumbing problems.
24/7 Availability - Because issues can arise at any time, we're ready to fix them right away.
Wide Range of Services Available - We don't just repair sewer lines - we can help with all of your plumbing needs.

Don't let broken pipes damage your health or home. For St. Louis sewer line repairs, call Drain Cleaning St. Louis today at 314-972-2233 or reach out online. Our sewer line repair services are always available, any time of day or night.