Maplewood, MO Sewer line repairs previously meant massive trenches being dug in the middle of your lawn 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 utilize modern, discrete techniques including pipe bursting and pipe lining to minimize your water's downtime and the impact on your lawn.

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 Maplewood, MO home.

On this page, we'll discuss:

We created this page to help you with noticing clues that point to a broken sewer line, locating the root issue, 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 Maplewood, MOSewer Line Damage Signs to Watch Out For:

Some plumbing issues, like a leaking faucet, are easy to notice. Sewer line damage, however, is not, which makes potentially hard to notice. On their own, the clues below could be a sign of another plumbing issue, but if your Maplewood, MO home starts to display multiple of them, it's time to call a professional plumber to check for sewer line damage:

  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 Maplewood, MO house's sewer line, air can get into the pipes and bubbles will spread, causing pervasive gurgling noises.
  3. 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.
  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 - Leaking sewer lines drawn in pests like insects and rodents. 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.
  6. Major Water Bill Fluctuation - Unexpected spikes in water bills can be the result of a broken sewer pipe, 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. There are a variety of ways that sewer lines can break in Maplewood, MO, but the most likely ones 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 - If the line becomes clogged, that can increase pressure and erosion, leading to cracks and bursts.
  • 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.

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. When they are needed, though, choosing the right repair method is important to minimize the cost and impact on your day-to-day life.


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How We Repair Maplewood, 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 consult with you to learn more about the situation and then take a deep look into your home's plumbing system to find the cause of the problem. We examine your pipes using a top-of-the-line drain camera to view all of your home's plumbing, and can confirm if there is a clog, crack, or any other issue with your sewer line.

After we've identified a broken sewer line, our technicians use the best repair method available for the circumstances. If practical, we will avoid excavating your lawn 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 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, is attached 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 liner pipe through the existing pipe. The main difference is that instead of relining a long portion of the older, damaged pipe, point repairs are more focused on smaller problem sections from a pipe that is otherwise in good condition.

Each of these methods helps us fix your property, faster without wrecking your day-to-day. Sewer line repairs aren't still a week-long project that disrupts your routine and tears up your yard. With modern techniques, We can make it faster and more affordable 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 available. And in any case, we retest your plumbing system after we're done, to be certain everything is working correctly now.


Preventing Damage to Your Maplewood, MO Sewer Lines

Regardless of whether it's brand new or recently repaired, proper care is important for your sewer line. There are some simple steps you can take to If you're wondering what you can do to protect your home's sewer line, we've got some tips:

  • Don't Discard Solids Down the Drain - Likewise for oils and greases. They can pile up and create blockages, which damage the pipes all through your house, and they are particularly rough on your sewer system, because anything discarded into your drains eventually goes through it. Put solids in the trash or compost.
  • Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners - There's a range of problems with chemical cleaners. Some are effective, but damaging to your pipes as they clean. Others don't even clean the pipes, and just harden, creating new blocks. If there's a clog in one of your drains, a better option is to pour warm salt water down the drain, and if that fails to fix it, call a reputable Maplewood, MO plumber to clear out the problem.
  • Manage Tree Roots - If you're thinking about planting or moving a tree around your landscape, 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 on the outside of your pipes to protect them from tree roots.
  • 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 flowing the wrong way, caring sewage 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, protecting your home and wallet in the long run.

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Maplewood, MO Sewer Line Repair FAQs

Maplewood, 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?

Generally, the property owner is responsible for repairing broken sewer lines. This also applies for parts that go off of your property, until the pipe reaches the sewer main, it's often 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?

Smaller cracks and leaks can take weeks, months or even years to find out about, though they often get worse over time. Watching out for 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 possible, 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 Maplewood, MO plumber to your sewer damage can be fixed through one of these methods.

Are sewer and water pipes the same?

Water and sewer pipes are distinct from each other — They are often constructed out of similar materials, but water pipes take clean water into your home, while sewer pipes carry out wastewater. Sewer lines tend to be made of sturdier material to to prevent corrosion, 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 is here to help you. When you work with us, you're getting:

  • Experienced Plumbing Specialists - We have over a decade of experience plumbing in Maplewood, MO, and our team is ready for any plumbing problem, even the unexpected.
  • 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 Maplewood, MO:

Protect your health and your home. For Maplewood, MO sewer line repairs, call Drain Cleaning St. Louis now at (314) 972-2233 or reach out online. Our sewer line repair services are always available, any time of day or night.