Kirkwood, MO Sewer line repairs used to mean tearing up your landscaping and losing access to water for the duration of the repairs. But with new repair methods, that's a thing of the past. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we use new, unintrusive methods such as pipe bursting and pipe lining to minimize your water's downtime and the impact on your lawn.

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. Don't wait – call now to protect your Kirkwood, MO home.

On this page, we'll overview:

This guide exists to help you with identifying a sewer line break, finding the root issue, and get an idea of how repairs will go. No matter what plumbing challenges you're up against, Drain Cleaning St. Louis offers plumbing services to help.

6 Kirkwood, MOSewer 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. Individually, none of the the below indicators guarantees that you have a broken sewer line., but if you're noticing several of them, especially at the same time, your Kirkwood, MO home likely needs sewer line repairs:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Pests - The stench of leaking sewage will attract pests, such as rats, mice, and bugs. These pests can thrive in the leakage, and may try to get into your home through the break in the sewage line.
  6. 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. Sewer line breaks in Kirkwood, MO have several causes, but the typical ones we see are:

  • Wear and Tear - Regardless of how well you care for your pipes, in time, they'll wear out and need repairs. Ensuring that they're all regularly and properly cleaned helps extend their lifespan.
  • 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 - Sewage leaking from a break provides sustenance to plants like trees, which will grow roots in the area to capitalize on the available nutrients. It's unlikely that they will cause a leak in the first place, but can aggravate the issue.

With proper installation and maintenance, sewer line repairs should not be frequently required. 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.

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How We Repair Kirkwood, MO Sewer Lines

At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we handle all kinds of plumbing repairs as well as cleanings. When we first set foot at your house, we'll consult with you to learn more about the situation and then inspect your pipes to find the root cause. 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 use the best repair method available for the circumstances. If viable, 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 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. 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. This tube is measured to fit snuggly in the old line, is secured with epoxy, and allows your sewer flow to continue past the break.
  • Sectional Pipe Point Repair - Sectional pipe point repair is closely related to pipe lining, as it also is designed around pulling a new, smaller piece of pipe 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.

The techniques above lets us mend your pipes, 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 destroys your lawn. With modern techniques, you can get it done sooner and for less than ever before.

These methods aren't appropriate for every job, but, we always check to see if a trenchless option is possible. And regardless of the repair method, we double-check everything by testing your new pipes at the end of the process, to verify that everything is fixing the problem we set out to solve.

Preventing Damage to Your Kirkwood, MO Sewer Lines

To get the longest life out of your sewer line, you'll want to take proper care of it. 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 - Likewise for oils and greases. These are common sources of clogs, friction, and other damage to your whole home's plumbing system, and sewer systems are extra vulnerable, 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 with increased corrosion. Others can actually solidify in your pipes, creating new blockages. If you have a blockage, you can try pouring warm salt water down the drain, and if that doesn't fix it, call a reputable Kirkwood, MO plumber to clear out the issue.
  • Manage Tree Roots - Any time you're planting or moving a tree on your property, check where the sewer lines run early in the planning stage, so you can avoid planting the tree close by. You can also install root barriers around your pipes to block them from invading the pipe.
  • Get A Backflow Preventer - Backflow preventers are not necessary for every home, but can be for some older homes, or homes with pools or irrigation systems. This stops water from reversing direction and bringing sewage back 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 sprinkler systems, or those using well water all use backflow preventers to protect the rest of the system.
  • 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 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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Kirkwood, MO Sewer Line Repair FAQs

Kirkwood, MO homeowners who are concerned about sewer line damage have questions - and we have answers. Below, we've written an overview of answers to some of the most popular questions:

Who is responsible for a broken sewer line?

Generally, the property owner is responsible for repairing broken sewer lines. Sewer lines can extend off of your property, but even from those parts, 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. Watching out for the key signs of damage and ensuring you have your plumbing inspected regularly 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 Kirkwood, MO plumber to figure out if one of these solutions is appropriate to the problem you're facing.

Are sewer and water pipes the same?

No, they are not — 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 frequently are 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 you think your sewer line has a break, 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 Kirkwood, 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 - If your pipe bursts in the middle of the night, no problem. We're ready to help any time of day.
  • Wide Range of Services Available - We don't just repair sewer lines - we can help with all of your plumbing needs.

We also offer these services in Kirkwood, MO:

Fix your sewer line damage before it causes further damage. For Kirkwood, MO sewer line repairs, call Drain Cleaning St. Louis today at (314) 972-2233 or reach out online. We're ready for your call, no matter when it comes in.

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