Sunset Hills, MO Sewer line repairs in the past meant massive trenches being dug in the middle of your lawn and hours of waiting before your water could be turned back on. But no longer. At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we use new, unintrusive methods like pipe bursting and pipe lining to lessen the impact on your day-to-day life, while providing a state-of-the-art fix.
Our technicians are available 24/7, so as soon as you notice a problem, call us at (314) 972-2233 or reach out online. We're ready today to help your Sunset Hills, 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 help you with noticing clues that point to a broken sewer line, finding the root issue, and understand repair methods that may apply to your home. No matter what plumbing challenges you're up against, Drain Cleaning St. Louis offers plumbing services to help.
6 Sunset Hills, 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. 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 Sunset Hills, MO sewer line needs repairs:
- 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. Breathing it excessively can have negative health effects.
- Gurgling - When there's a break in your Sunset Hills, 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 - 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.
- Pests - Insects and rodents are attracted to broken sewer lines. These pests can thrive in the leakage, and may try to get into your home through the break in the sewage line.
- 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:
Maybe you suspect that your sewer line is damaged, but you're not sure how it happened. Sewer line breaks in Sunset Hills, MO have several causes, but the usual suspects 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.
If your sewer line was put in correctly and cleaned/maintained regularly, it shouldn't need repairs 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.
How We Repair Sunset Hills, MO Sewer Lines
At Drain Cleaning St. Louis, we cover all your home's plumbing and sewer line repair needs. When our expert plumbers first arrive at your home, we'll first talk with you to get an understanding of the problem 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 there is a leak in your sewer line.
After we've identified a broken sewer line, our technicians pick an appropriate repair method for the situation. If we can, we will avoid any excessive impact on your landscaping 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. 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 - This method works well for less severe breaks, and works a lot like pipe bursting. Pipe lining uses a smaller pipe that is placed inside of the existing sewer line, covering any cracks. 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 very similar to pipe lining, because it also is designed around pulling a section of sealant or liner through the existing pipe. 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.
Using pipe bursting, pipe lining, and sectional repair methods helps us fix your property, quicker while letting you stick to your routine. Sewer line repairs don't have to be a major hassle that disrupts your life and destroys your lawn. With modern techniques, you can get it done sooner and for less than ever before.
There are still times where larger-scale repairs will be necessary, but, we always check to see if a trenchless option is possible. And in any case, we retest your plumbing system after we're done, to make sure everything is fixing the problem we set out to solve.
Preventing Damage to Your Sunset Hills, 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 can hit your sewer line especially hard, because anything discarded into your drains 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 as they clean. Others can actually solidify in your pipes, creating new blockages. If there's a clog in one of your drains, you can try pouring warm salt water down the drain, and if that doesn't remove the blockage, call a reputable Sunset Hills, MO plumber to clear out the problem.
- Manage Tree Roots - If you're considering 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 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 reversing direction and bringing sewage back into your home's plumbing system. Many homes already naturally prevent this, 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 - 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 - 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, saving you money and time in the long run.
Sunset Hills, MO Sewer Line Repair FAQs
Sunset Hills, MO homeowners in need of sewer line repairs have lots of questions. Check out our responses to some of the most common questions on sewer line repair:
Who is responsible for a broken sewer line?
It depends a bit on local regulations, but typically if you own the property, you're responsible for sewer line repairs. This also applies for parts that go off of your property, until the pipe reaches the sewer main, it's frequently 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?
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. Paying attention to 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 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 Sunset Hills, 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 — 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 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 something is wrong with your sewer line, or you need an expert to evaluate your home's plumbing, Drain Cleaning St. Louis is proud to be your partner. When you work with us, you're getting:
- Experienced Plumbing Specialists - We have over a decade of experience plumbing in Sunset Hills, MO, and our team is experts in all things plumbing.
- Emergency Plumbing Response - For major pipe bursts or sewer line breaks, we act fast to fix your home's plumbing problems.
- 24/7 Availability - Because issues can arise at any time, we're ready to fix them right away.
- 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 Sunset Hills, MO:
- Drain Repair
- Clogged Drain
- Drain Cleaning Contractors
- Unclog Drain
- Drain Cleaning Services
- Drain Cleaning
Protect your health and your home. For Sunset Hills, 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.