Mehlville, MO Sewer line repairs previously meant digging up your whole yard 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 such as 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 contact us online. Fix it early and prevent further damage to your Mehlville, MO home.
On this page, we'll teach you about:
- 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 assist you with identifying a sewer line break, 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 Mehlville, MOSewer Line Damage Signs to Watch Out For:
It's not always obvious when your sewer line is damaged, which makes potentially hard to notice. 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 Mehlville, MO home likely needs sewer line repairs:
- Odor/Smell - A nasty odor that never seems to go away, especially in your backyard, is the clearest indicator that your sewer line is broken. Breathing it excessively can have negative health effects.
- Gurgling - When there's a break in your Mehlville, MO house's sewer line, air can get into the pipes and bubbles will spread, causing pervasive gurgling noises.
- 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 - Leaking water and sewage can create wet spots that fertilize the lawn, creating puddles and extra green patches of grass.
- Pests - The stench of leaking sewage will attract pests, such as rats, mice, and bugs. These pests can thrive in the leakage, and possibly crawl up the pipe into your home.
- 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, constantly draining your water throughout the month.
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 Mehlville, MO have several causes, but the most frequent 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 - 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.
How We Repair Mehlville, 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. When we first set foot at your house, we'll first talk with you to get an understanding of the problem and then conduct an inspection to identify the problem. We examine your pipes using a top-of-the-line drain camera to see all throughout your pipes, and can confirm if there is a leak in your sewer line.
After we've found a break in a sewer line, our technicians pick an appropriate repair method for the situation. If we can, 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 broken sewer line down and replacing it with a newer line in the process. By using the existing line as a guide, this replacement method doesn't require trenches to be 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 glued in place with epoxy, and gets your sewage flowing past the breaks in the old line.
- Sectional Pipe Point Repair - Sectional pipe point repair is not all that different from 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 only cover a smaller section with the leak.
The techniques above lets us repair your sewer line, faster while letting you stick to your routine. Sewer line repairs aren't still a week-long project that pauses 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 available. And no matter which technique we use, we reconnect and test your pipes again afterwards, to verify that your new pipe is no longer leaking like the old one.
Preventing Damage to Your Mehlville, MO Sewer Lines
For any sewer line, taking care of it will help extend its lifespan and reduce the need for repairs. We've written out some advice you can use 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 sewer systems are extra vulnerable, since everything 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 you have a blockage, you can try pouring warm salt water down the drain, and if that fails to unclog it, call a reputable Mehlville, MO plumber to clear out the block.
- 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 stop the trees from getting in.
- 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 may require 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 can catch smaller issues before they snowball into larger ones, protecting your home and wallet in the long run.
Mehlville, MO Sewer Line Repair FAQs
Mehlville, MO homeowners want to know more about sewer line maintenance, whether yours is new, damaged, or recently repaired. We've listed out our answers to the most popular sewer line repair questions:
Who is responsible for a broken sewer line?
If your property's sewer line is broken, it's normally your responsibility to repair it. This also applies for parts that go off of 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?
It is possible for a sewer line to be broken and unnoticed for a long time, even months, if the leak is small enough. Watching out for 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 practical, 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 Mehlville, MO plumber to your sewer damage can be fixed through one of these methods.
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 are often 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 your sewer line is damaged, or you're wanting to set up a preventative inspection, Drain Cleaning St. Louis is here to help you. Our customers get:
- Experienced Plumbing Specialists - We have over a decade of experience plumbing in Mehlville, MO, and our team knows how to handle any plumbing issues.
- 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 - Beyond sewer line repairs, we can help with all of your plumbing needs.
We also offer these services in Mehlville, MO:
Don't let broken pipes damage your health or home. For Mehlville, 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.