Affton, MO Sewer line repairs previously meant digging up your whole yard and having your water shut off for hours or days. But that's a thing of the past. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we the latest, unobtrusive practices like pipe bursting and pipe lining to fix your sewer line as fast as possible with as little interruption to your life as possible.

Our team is ready for you 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 Affton, MO home.

On this page, we'll teach you about:

On this page, you'll learn skills to assist you with noticing clues that point to a broken sewer line, locating the root issue, and understanding what repairs will look like. Regardless of the type, size, and location of the problem, Drain Cleaning St. Louis offers plumbing services to help.


6 Affton, MOSewer Line Damage Signs to Watch Out For:

Sewer line damage isn't always as immediately visible as other plumbing issues, which makes it all the more important to know what to look for. On their own, the clues below could be a sign of another plumbing issue, but the more that add up, the more likely it is that your Affton, MO sewer line needs repairs:

  1. Odor/Smell - A persistent sewage smell, particularly in your backyard, is the most obvious sign of a broken sewer line. Don't inhale too deep: It can have negative health effects.
  2. Gurgling - When there's a break in your Affton, MO house's sewer line, air can get into the pipes and bubbles will spread, causing pervasive gurgling noises.
  3. Slow Drain - If you're having trouble with multiple drains around your home not performing well, that is often a sign of a broken sewer line. This is especially the case if treating the individual drains doesn't seem to help.
  4. 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.
  5. Pests - Leaking sewer lines drawn in pests like insects and rodents. These pests can thrive in the leakage, and possibly crawl up the pipe into your home.
  6. Major Water Bill Fluctuation - If your water bills fluctuate, particularly if they are trending upward, it could be the result of a broken sewer line, which silently draws from your water supply, day after day.

Common Sewer Line Damage Causes:

Now that you know the signs of potential sewer pipe damage, let's look at some of the potential causes. Sewer line breaks in Affton, MO have several causes, but the most common are:

  • Wear and Tear - Inevitably, your pipes will wear down and develop cracks, even just from general use. Putting substances like oils or cleaners down the drain can cause the damage to occur faster.
  • Blockages/Clogs - Even though you can't see them, clogs in the line can cause major issues. Heightened levels of pressure and erosion lead to the formation of cracks and leaks.
  • Tree Roots - Trees will naturally spread their roots where they can find nutrients and moisture, and find leaking sewer lines to be an excellent source of both. They typically are not the cause of the original break, but can make it worse.

With proper installation and maintenance, sewer line repairs should not be frequently required. That said, when they are needed, they're often needed urgently. It's important for your plumber to use a method that is fast, effective, and minimizes disruptions to your life.


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How We Repair Affton, MO Sewer Lines

At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we provide you with quality inspections and repairs to help identify and correct any issues with your home's plumbing. After arriving at your property, 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 view all of your home's plumbing, and can confirm if the sewer line is broken.

After we've found a break in a sewer line, our technicians will help you identify the best repair option for your home. If reasonable, we will avoid any excessive impact on your landscaping with one of the following trenchless sewer line repair methods:

  • Pipe Bursting - If we use pipe bursting, a new pipe will be pulled through your old one, breaking the old one and automatically setting the new one in its place. If pipe bursting is realistic, this minimizes damage to your hard, since holes only need to be dug to feed the new pipe down to the existing one, rather than full trenches to lay it down.
  • Pipe Lining - Pipe lining also takes advantage of the pipes your sewer line already has in place. With this method, you also pull a new pipe along the existing sewer line, but instead of breaking apart the old one, the new line just fits inside. The new pipe will be precisely fitted with the existing one, is secured with epoxy, and avoids the burst pipe without needing a full replacement.
  • Sectional Pipe Point Repair - Sectional pipe point repair is not all that different from pipe lining, as it also is based around 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 lets us fix your property, quicker without wrecking your day-to-day. Sewer line repairs aren't still a week-long project that disrupts your life and tears up your yard. Today, it can be done quicker and cheaper than ever before.

Not every break or crack will work with these techniques, we always check to see if a trenchless option is appropriate. And in any case, we reconnect and test your pipes again afterwards, to be certain your house's plumbing is functioning properly now.


Preventing Damage to Your Affton, MO Sewer Lines

Regardless of whether it's brand new or recently repaired, proper care is important for your sewer line. We've written out some advice you can use 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 they can hit your sewer line especially hard, because anything discarded into your drains eventually goes through it. Put solids in the trash or compost.
  • Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners - Some chemical cleaners can be effective, butdamaging to your pipes in the process. Others just worsen the clog. If you have a blockage, a better option is to pour warm salt water down the drain, and if that fails to fix it, call a reputable Affton, MO plumber to clear out the blockage.
  • Manage Tree Roots - If you're considering planting or moving a tree around your landscape, check where the sewer lines run prior to picking the tree's new spot. You can also install root barriers around your pipes to block them from invading the pipe.
  • Get A Backflow Preventer - If you've ever had issues with basement flooding, particularly from a sewer line, your home might need a backflow preventer. This device stops water from flowing the wrong way, caring sewage into your home's plumbing system. Many homes already naturally prevent this, but older systems, those with sprinkler systems, or those using well water all use backflow preventers to protect the rest of the system.
  • Repair Other Issues Promptly - A simple clog in your pipes isn't the end of the world, but it's not something you should delay. Increased pressure, friction, and corrosion are all contributors to larger problems, which you can help prevent by taking care of clogs without delay.
  • Regular Maintenance/Inspections - Even if no fixes or major maintenance is required, it's a good idea to have your plumbing inspected every one to two years, or more often for older plumbing systems. A quick inspection can identify problems that may not have been visible to the naked eye, saving you money and time in the long run.

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Affton, MO Sewer Line Repair FAQs

Affton, MO homeowners who are concerned about sewer line damage have questions - and we have answers. We've listed out our answers to the most popular sewer line repair questions:

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 probably the homeowner's responsibility to repair.

Does homeowners' insurance cover sewer line repairs?

Home insurance policies are all different, so you'll want to check what your specific coverage is. Normally, event-based damage (such as from a fire) will be covered, while wear-and-tear damage is not.

Is a broken sewer pipe an emergency?

When a broken sewer line is letting sewage out into your grass, or if the sewage is backflowing into your home, that is an emergency and you need to call a plumber right away. Letting it continue can be hazardous to 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 ensuring you have your plumbing inspected regularly is critical to finding leaks that were otherwise unnoticable.

What is the cheapest way to repair a sewer line?

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

Are sewer and water pipes the same?

Sewer pipes and water pipes are not the same — they may look the same, but their function is different; water pipes take clean water into your home, while sewer pipes carry out wastewater. Sewer lines tend to be made of sturdier material to protect against wear and tear, and rely on gravity (as opposed to water pressure).




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

If you think your sewer line has a break, or you need an expert to evaluate your home's plumbing, Drain Cleaning St. Louis is proud to be your partner. We feature:

  • Experienced Plumbing Specialists - We have over a decade of experience plumbing in Affton, MO, and our team is experts in all things plumbing.
  • Emergency Plumbing Response - If a pipe is gushing water or there's sewage coming out of your sink, we're there to help right away.
  • 24/7 Availability - Our team is ready for your call, no matter when it comes in.
  • Wide Range of Services Available - Beyond sewer line repairs, we can help with all of your plumbing needs.

We also offer these services in Affton, MO:

    Protect your health and your home. For Affton, MO sewer line repairs, call Drain Cleaning St. Louis now at (314) 972-2233 or reach out online. We're ready for your call, no matter when it comes in.