Brentwood, MO Sewer line repairs previously meant tearing up your landscaping and losing access to water for the duration of the repairs. But that's a thing of the past. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we use new, unintrusive methods like pipe bursting and pipe lining to fix your plumbing without breaking your landscaping.
You can reach us 24/7, so as soon as you notice a problem, call us at (314) 972-2233 or get in touch online. We're ready today to help your Brentwood, MO home.
On this page, we'll look at:
- 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
On this page, you'll learn skills to assist you with recognizing when your sewer line is broken, identifying the cause, and understand repair methods that may apply to your home. If you're facing issues with your Brentwood, MO home's water, Drain Cleaning St. Louis offers plumbing services to help.
6 Brentwood, MOSewer Line Damage Signs to Watch Out For:
It's not always obvious when your sewer line is damaged, which makes learning the different signs essential. On their own, the clues below could be a sign of another plumbing issue, but if you're noticing several of them, especially at the same time, your Brentwood, MO home likely needs sewer line repairs:
- Odor/Smell - If your backyard always seems to have a gross, sewage smell, that's the best clue that your sewer line could be broken. Avoid inhaling these smells, since they can have negative health effects.
- Gurgling - If you're hearing bubbles and gurgling in multiple spots in your home, it's possible air is getting into your pipes through a crack in your sewer line.
- Slow Drain - When your home's drains don't flow well, even after cleaning them out, it could be that the root cause is a deeper sewer line break.
- Green and/or Soggy Yard - Sewage acts as a fertilizer for grass, so leaks can cause patches to grow faster and greener. These spots will also probably have puddles that seem to come back over and over.
- Pests - Insects and rodents are attracted to broken sewer lines. They can both live in the damp parts of the yard, and will explore the area, and potentially go up the sewage pipe into your house.
- Major Water Bill Fluctuation - Unexpected spikes in water bills can be the result of a broken sewer pipe, creating a flow of water that runs all month long.
Common Sewer Line Damage Causes:
Whatever signs of sewer pipe damage you're noticing, it's possible it's coming from one of a few causes. There are a variety of ways that sewer lines can break in Brentwood, MO, but the typical ones we see are:
- Wear and Tear - Over time, particularly if grease or cleaning chemicals have gone down your drains, the pipes will weaken and corrode. Ensuring that they're all regularly and properly cleaned helps extend their lifespan.
- Blockages/Clogs - Blockages in the line exacerbate other issues, as well as increasing corrosion and pressure in the line, eventually causing cracks to develop.
- 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.
Unless something went wrong when your sewer line was first built, or it hasn't been maintained properly, it shouldn't require repairs very often. However, breaks do still occur, even when you're careful. When that happens, your plumber will need to use the right method to quickly and properly fix the issue, and avoid high costs or inconveniences in your life.
How We Repair Brentwood, MO Sewer Lines
At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we cover all your home's plumbing and sewer line repair needs. When we first set foot at your house, we'll check in with you to understand the issue and then take a deep look into your home's plumbing system to find the cause of the problem. We look at your lines using a top-of-the-line drain camera to check out your pipes from the inside, and can confirm if the sewer line is broken.
After we've found a break in a sewer line, our technicians pick an appropriate repair method for the situation. If reasonable, we will avoid any excessive impact on your landscaping with one of the following trenchless sewer line repair methods:
- Pipe Bursting - Pipe bursting features a new pipe, which is pulled through your old one, breaking the broken sewer line down and replacing it with a newer line in the process. 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. 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, will be affixed 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, because 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 only cover a smaller section with the leak.
Each of these methods helps us fix your property, more rapidly while letting you stick to your routine. Sewer line repairs no longer need to be a full-day or multi-day endeavor that disrupts your routine and wrecks your landscape. With modern techniques, it can be done quicker and cheaper than ever before.
There are times where we can't use one of the above methods, but, we always check to see if a trenchless option is realistic. And in any case, we double-check everything by testing your new pipes at the end of the process, to ensure your house's plumbing is no longer leaking like the old one.
Preventing Damage to Your Brentwood, MO Sewer Lines
To get the longest life out of your sewer line, you'll want to take proper care of it. Below are some tips to protect your sewer line from wear and prevent the need for future repairs:
- Don't Discard Solids Down the Drain - And also don't send down oils and greases. Your entire plumbing system can suffer from blocks, increased wear, and corrosion, and they are particularly rough on your sewer system, because all the things you send down the drain 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, leading to more damage over time. Others just worsen the clog. If you think one of your pipes is blocked, a better option is to pour warm salt water down the drain, and if that fails to fix it, call a reputable Brentwood, MO plumber to evaluate the blockage.
- Manage Tree Roots - When planning on planting or moving a tree on your property, 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 - Depending on your specific property and plumbing system, it might be necessary to get a backflow preventer. This device stops water from going backwards through the sewage line into your home's plumbing system. It's possible your home will already have a natural backflow prevention built into the plumbing system's design, but older systems, those with pools, or those using well water all may require backflow preventers.
- Repair Other Issues Promptly - Smaller problems can easily snowball into larger ones, as issues like blocks can affect the water's flow and friction. Getting them fixed right away stops them from causing unseen damage over time
- Regular Maintenance/Inspections - To protect your home's pipes, you can have a plumbing inspection every one to two years, or more often for older plumbing systems. A quick inspection stops major problems before they happen, protecting your home and wallet in the long run.
Brentwood, MO Sewer Line Repair FAQs
Brentwood, MO homeowners in need of sewer line repairs have lots of questions. We've listed out our answers to the most popular sewer line repair questions:
Who is responsible for a broken sewer line?
It depends a bit on local regulations, but typically if you own the property, you're responsible for sewer line repairs. This also applies for parts that go off of your property, until the pipe reaches the sewer main, it's frequently the homeowner's responsibility to repair.
Does homeowners' insurance cover sewer line repairs?
While it varies from policy to policy, there is a general rule of thumb: If the damage resulted from a specific event (for example, a storm), insurance will likely cover it. If it happened over time because of poor maintenance, you're probably going to have to pay out of pocket.
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?
It is possible for a sewer line to be broken and unnoticed for a long time, even months, if the leak is small enough. Being aware of the key signs of damage and setting up regular maintenance is critical to catching it before it slips through the cracks.
What is the cheapest way to repair a sewer line?
If possible, 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 Brentwood, MO plumber to find out if one of these options is right for your property.
Are sewer and water pipes the same?
Water and sewer pipes are distinct from each other — 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 are normally 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 something is wrong with your sewer line, or you're not sure and need to set up an inspection, Drain Cleaning St. Louis has got your back. Our customers get:
- Experienced Plumbing Specialists - We have over a decade of experience plumbing in Brentwood, MO, and our team is ready for any plumbing problem, even the unexpected.
- Emergency Plumbing Response - We respond to plumbing emergencies as soon as possible to stop them from throwing off your life.
- 24/7 Availability - Our team is ready for your call, no matter when it comes in.
- Wide Range of Services Available - Whatever is going on with your home's pipes, we can help with all of your plumbing needs.
We also offer these services in Brentwood, MO:
- Drain Repair
- Clogged Drain
- Drain Cleaning Contractors
- Unclog Drain
- Drain Cleaning Services
- Drain Cleaning
Don't let broken pipes damage your health or home. For Brentwood, MO 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.