Richmond Heights, MO Sewer line repairs used to mean massive trenches being dug in the middle of your lawn and hours of waiting before your water could be turned back on. But with new repair methods, that's a thing of the past. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we utilize modern, discrete techniques such as pipe bursting and pipe lining to fix your sewer line as fast as possible with as little interruption to your life as possible.

Our phone line is active 24/7, so as soon as you notice a problem, call us at (314) 972-2233 or contact us online. Don't wait – call now to protect your Richmond Heights, MO home.

On this page, we'll go over:

We created this page to help you with identifying a sewer line break, finding the reason, and understanding what repairs will look like. No matter what plumbing challenges you're up against, Drain Cleaning St. Louis offers plumbing services to help.

6 Richmond Heights, 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 them tricky to identify. Any one of the below signs on its own may be from something else, but if you're noticing several of them, especially at the same time, your Richmond Heights, 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 - 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 - If your backyard has strange wet spots that never seem to go away, or odd patterns of greener grass, that can be a sign that your sewer line is leaking into the yard, creating puddles and fertilizing the grass.
  5. Pests - Insects and rodents are attracted to broken sewer lines. They'll turn your yard into a breeding ground, 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:

Now that you know the signs of potential sewer pipe damage, let's look at some of the potential causes. Sewer line breaks in Richmond Heights, MO have several causes, but the most likely ones 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 - 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.

If your sewer line was put in correctly and cleaned/maintained regularly, it shouldn't need repairs often. 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 Richmond Heights, 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 inspect your pipes to find the root cause. We examine your pipes 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 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 - A process in which a new pipe is pulled through your old one, breaking the old one and automatically setting the new one in its place. This allows the process to be performed with minimal holes dug in your yard.
  • Pipe Lining - We can also avoid digging up your lawn with pipe lining. 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 secured with epoxy, and avoids the burst pipe without needing a full replacement.
  • Sectional Pipe Point Repair - Sectional pipe point repair is closely related to pipe lining, since it also involves pulling a section of sealant or liner through the pre-existing sewer line. The main difference is that pipe lining involves extensive relining, covering a large portion of the existing pipe, while point repairs are specifically targeted at cracks and damaged areas.

Using pipe bursting, pipe lining, and sectional repair methods lets us restore your home's plumbing, more rapidly without wrecking your day-to-day. Sewer line repairs no longer need to be a full-day or multi-day endeavor that disrupts your routine and destroys your lawn. Now, We can make it faster and more affordable than ever before.

These methods aren't appropriate for every job, but, we always check to see if a trenchless option is practical. And for any repair job, conventional or modern, we retest your plumbing system after we're done, to verify that your new pipe is functioning properly now.

Preventing Damage to Your Richmond Heights, MO Sewer Lines

Regardless of whether it's brand new or recently repaired, proper care is important for your sewer line. Below are some tips to minimize wear and tear and prevent future damage to your sewer line:

  • 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 can hit your sewer line especially hard, 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 in the process. 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 doesn't remove the blockage, call a reputable Richmond Heights, MO plumber to take care of the clog.
  • 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 on the outside of your pipes to protect them from tree roots.
  • 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. A lot of homes have plumbing systems that are built to prevent backflow automatically, but older systems, those with pools, 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 - 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.
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Richmond Heights, MO Sewer Line Repair FAQs

Richmond Heights, MO homeowners in need of sewer line repairs have lots of questions. Below, we've written an overview of answers to some of the most popular 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 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?

Not every sewer line leak is an emergency, but if it's letting sewage out into your yard, or back into your home's clean water, then it is. This is because of the damage it can do to 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. Being aware of the key signs of damage and ensuring you have your plumbing inspected regularly is critical to catching it before it slips through the cracks.

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 Richmond Heights, MO plumber to your sewer damage can be fixed through one of these methods.

Are sewer and water pipes the same?

Sewer pipes and water pipes are not the same — while they may be made of the same material, 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 you think your sewer line has a break, or you need an expert to evaluate your home's plumbing, Drain Cleaning St. Louis is here to help you. Our customers get:

  • Experienced Plumbing Specialists - We have over a decade of experience plumbing in Richmond Heights, 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 - Beyond sewer line repairs, we can help with all of your plumbing needs.

We also offer these services in Richmond Heights, MO:

Protect your health and your home. For Richmond Heights, 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.

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