Shrewsbury, MO Sewer line repairs in the past meant tearing up your landscaping and having your water shut off for hours or days. But now, that's in the past. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we utilize modern, discrete techniques like pipe bursting and pipe lining to minimize your water's downtime and the impact on your lawn.

Our phone line is active 24/7, so as soon as you notice a problem, call us at (314) 972-2233 or reach out online. Fix it early and prevent further damage to your Shrewsbury, MO home.

On this page, we'll teach you about:

This guide exists to assist you with noticing clues that point to a broken sewer line, identifying the root issue, and understanding what repairs will look like. If you're facing issues with your Shrewsbury, MO home's water, Drain Cleaning St. Louis offers plumbing services to help.

6 Shrewsbury, MOSewer Line Damage Signs to Watch Out For:

Sewer line damage isn't always as immediately visible as other plumbing issues, which makes potentially hard to notice. On their own, the clues below could be a sign of another plumbing issue, but the more that add up, the more likely it is that your Shrewsbury, MO sewer line needs repairs:

  1. 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.
  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 - Leaking sewer lines drawn in pests like insects and rodents. They can both live in the damp parts of the yard, and may try to get into your home through the break in the sewage line.
  6. Major Water Bill Fluctuation - Strange fluctuations in your water bill, particularly if it increased suddenly, can be a sign that your sewer line is broken, creating a flow of water that runs all month long.

Common Sewer Line Damage Causes:

The particulars of sewer line damage can be challenging to identify. Sewer line breaks in Shrewsbury, MO have several causes, but the most common are:

  • Wear and Tear - Inevitably, your pipes will wear down and develop cracks, even just from general use. Putting substances like oils or cleaners down the drain can cause the damage to occur faster. 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 - 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.

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 Shrewsbury, 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 check out your pipes from the inside, and can confirm if there is a leak in your sewer line.

After we've identified a broken sewer line, our technicians will help you identify the best repair option for your home. If possible, 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 old one and automatically setting the new one in its place. If pipe bursting is realistic, this minimizes damage to your hard, since holes only need to be dug to feed the new pipe down to the existing one, rather than full trenches to lay it down.
  • Pipe Lining - Pipe lining also takes advantage of the pipes your sewer line already has in place. 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 liner pipe is measured to fit perfectly inside the damaged line, is secured with epoxy, and circumvents the leaks and keeps your sewage flowing.
  • Sectional Pipe Point Repair - Sectional pipe point repair is closely related to pipe lining, because it also is based around pulling a section of sealant or liner through the pre-existing sewer line. The main difference is that instead of relining a long portion of the older, damaged pipe, point repairs are specifically targeted at cracks and damaged areas.

The techniques above helps us restore your home's plumbing, faster without wrecking your day-to-day. Sewer line repairs aren't still a week-long project that pauses your life and tears up your yard. Today, 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 possible. And no matter which technique we use, we double-check everything by testing your new pipes at the end of the process, to ensure everything is fixing the problem we set out to solve.

Preventing Damage to Your Shrewsbury, MO Sewer Lines

Regardless of whether it's brand new or recently repaired, proper care is important for your sewer line. We've written out some advice you can use to protect your sewer line from wear and prevent the need for future repairs:

  • Don't Discard Solids Down the Drain - The same goes 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, 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 you have a blockage, a better option is to pour warm salt water down the drain, and if that doesn't fix it, call a reputable Shrewsbury, MO plumber to evaluate the issue.
  • Manage Tree Roots - Any time you're planting or moving a tree on your property, check where the sewer lines run before deciding on its new location. You can also install root barriers on the outside of your pipes to stop the trees from getting in.
  • 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 flowing the wrong way, caring sewage 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 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 - 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, saving you money and time in the long run.
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Shrewsbury, MO Sewer Line Repair FAQs

Shrewsbury, 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 most often 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?

When a broken sewer line is letting sewage out into your grass, or if the sewage is backflowing into your home, that is an emergency and you need to call a plumber right away. Letting it continue can be hazardous 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. Watching out for the key signs of damage and setting up regular maintenance is critical to finding leaks that were otherwise unnoticable.

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 Shrewsbury, MO plumber to find out if one of these options is right for your property.

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 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 not sure and need to set up an inspection, Drain Cleaning St. Louis is proud to be your partner. We feature:

  • Experienced Plumbing Specialists - We have over a decade of experience plumbing in Shrewsbury, 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 - 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 - Whatever is going on with your home's pipes, we can help with all of your plumbing needs.

We also offer these services in Shrewsbury, MO:

Don't let broken pipes damage your health or home. For Shrewsbury, 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.

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