When older sewer pipes need repairs, they present some major challenges for their current homeowners -- and frequently even for the plumbing contractors that are called in for the big jobs.
Cast iron was once the the main choice in plumbing pipelines, including the lateral line, which drains from your house into the sewer main. When one breaks, frequently the wisest decision is to replace the cast iron with new polyethylene pipe that will not rupture so easily in the future.
Another modern sewer line replacement method is known as trenchless plumbing. This method enables a plumber to fix the sewer line without digging a trench. One variety of trenchless sewer line repair is known as the "bursting method": Contracters will thread a new pipeline through the existing, cracked line. This further bursts the broken pipeline to make room for the new one.
Another trenchless sewer pipe repair strategy is the "lining method." Using this approach, plumbers will place a plastic tube through the existing sewer line and inflate it. This lining will then make any ruptures in the existing pipe totally moot. Additionally, the lining can easily be removed and fixed (or replaced) as future problems arise.
Even with trenchless sewer line repair, it is possible for invasive roots to repeat their invasion. In addition to fixing the breaks in the line, plumbers may consider blocking root growth toward the sewer pipeline for any nearby trees.
The price of sewer line repair drastically varies depending on the business doing the labor and how much labor there is to do. Some sewer pipes run under garages, driveways, or landscaping. Especially under such circumstances, trenchless replacement can be a preferable option. When choosing a plumbing contracter, get quotes from 2 or more different bidders. Ensure that all of the quotes include all of the same labor. Contractors often charge significantly different rates for the same parts. Also make sure you get in writing the expected state of your property after the work is done. That is to say, if a contracter does have to dig through your yard or necessitate other cleanup work, it should be agreed upon whose duty it is -- yours or theirs -- to clean it up.
Whenever you get a price quote for a sewer fix, have a sense of whether similar fixes will have to be have to be performed in the very near future. Especially when it comes to older properties (or newer properties connecting to an older sewer pipeline), it may be worth paying for an entire replacement project instead of minor fixes, so that you won't have to put up with this same dilemma a few years from now. Many plumbing companies such as sewer repair contractor Tacoma WA provide a warranty on sewer line replacement, some of them for as long as you own the house.