When old sewer lines need fixing, they present a few distinct challenges for their current homeowners -- and sometimes even for the plumbers that get hired for the professional jobs.
Iron used to be the the main choice in plumbing pipelines, including the lateral sewer line, which drains from your property into the sewer main. When this pipe bursts, often the wisest course of action is to replace the iron with new ABS pipe that will not face the same dangers in the future.
Another contemporary sewer pipeline replacement strategy is called trenchless plumbing. This strategy enables you to repair the sewer pipeline without tearing up your grass. One type of trenchless sewer pipeline repair is called the "bursting method": Contracters will pull a new pipeline through the existing, broken pipe. This further expands the existing pipeline to make way for the replacement.
Another trenchless sewer line repair method is the "lining method." Using this strategy, contracters will place a flexible tube through the broken sewer pipeline and inflate it. This lining will then make any ruptures in the existing pipe totally moot. Additionally, the lining can easily be removed and repaired (or switched out) if necessary.
Even with trenchless sewer pipeline repair, it is possible for invasive roots to repeat their invasion. In addition to repairing the breaks in the pipeline, contracters may consider impeding root growth toward the sewer pipe for any nearby heavy foliage.
The price of sewer pipeline repair dramatically varies depending on the business doing the labor and how much labor has to be done. Some sewer lines run beneath garages, driveways, or landscaping. Especially under these circumstances, trenchless replacement can be a worthwhile alternative. When choosing a plumbing company, request quotes from at least two different bidders. Ensure that all of the quotes include exactly the same items. Plumbers often charge very different rates for the same parts. Also make sure you get in writing the expected condition of your property after the work is all done. That is to say, if a plumber does have to dig a trench in your yard or make a mess, it should be clear whose duty it is -- theirs or yours -- to clean it up.
Any time you request an estimate for a sewer repair, have a sense of whether it's likely more repairs will have to be made in the foreseeable future. Especially under older properties (or newer properties connecting to an older sewer pipeline), it might be worth paying for a total replacement project instead of small repairs, so that you won't have to deal with a similar dilemma three years down the road. Many plumbing businesses such as sewer repair contractor Tacoma WA provide a warranty on sewer pipeline replacement, some of them for as long as you own the property.