Signs your sewer line needs repair
- Several drains in the house are slow at the same time.
- Toilets gurgle when a sink or tub drains.
- Sewage backs up into the lowest shower or floor drain.
- A sewer odor inside the house or over part of the yard.
- One patch of lawn stays wet or grows noticeably greener along the line.
- Clogs return within weeks of the line being cleaned.
What goes wrong with sewer lines in Delray Beach
- Cast iron corrosion. Older homes have cast iron under the slab and out to the property line. It scales, channels along the bottom and cracks.
- Clay pipe. Some older laterals are vitrified clay, with a joint every few feet that roots and settlement can open.
- Tree roots. Ficus, sea grape and other fast-growing landscape trees send roots into any joint that leaks moisture.
- Bellies. Sandy soil and a high water table let sections of pipe settle into a sag that holds waste and solids.
- Grease and wipes. Cooking grease and "flushable" wipes build up and snag on rough, corroded pipe walls.
- Separated joints. Settlement and root pressure pull joints apart and let soil into the pipe.
Our sewer line repair process
Clear and inspect
We clear the line enough for the camera to pass and record its full length.
Locate and mark
Every defect is located from the surface and marked with its depth.
Explain the options
We explain which repair methods fit the pipe and what each involves for your yard, driveway or floors.
Permit
Sewer replacement generally requires a permit, which we obtain before work begins.
Repair
We complete the chosen repair, whether a spot repair, a replacement or a trenchless method.
Verify on camera
A second camera pass confirms the repair and the line flows freely.
Sewer camera inspection
A waterproof camera on a flexible push cable goes into the line through a cleanout and records the inside of the pipe from the house to the city connection. A transmitter in the camera head lets us mark the exact position and depth of every defect from the surface. You receive the video and a description of what it shows, so you can see the problem rather than take our word for it.
Sewer line repair methods
| Method | How it works | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | We excavate at the defect and replace a short section of pipe. | A single break or root-damaged joint on an otherwise sound line. |
| Full replacement | We excavate the line and replace it end to end with PVC. | Collapsed pipe, severe bellies, or lines too deteriorated to line. |
| Pipe lining (CIPP) | A resin-saturated liner is pulled into the old pipe and cured to form a new, jointless pipe inside it. | Cracked or root-damaged pipe that still holds its shape, under driveways or landscaping. |
| Pipe bursting | A bursting head pulls new pipe through the old line while breaking the old pipe outward. | Replacing a full lateral with minimal digging, where the route is straight. |
Who is responsible for the sewer lateral?
In Delray Beach, as in most Florida cities, the property owner is generally responsible for the lateral from the house to the point where it connects at the city cleanout or main, while the city maintains the public sewer main. Confirm the dividing point for your property with City of Delray Beach Utilities. When a camera inspection shows the defect is on the city's side, we give you the footage to report it.
Sewer Line Repair questions
Is sewer line repair the same as drain cleaning?
No. Cleaning removes a blockage from the pipe. Repair fixes the damage that causes blockages to return, such as a crack, a belly or an open joint that lets roots in.
Can tree roots be removed from a sewer line for good?
Cutting roots clears the pipe for a while, but roots grow back through the same open joint. Sealing the joint with a liner or replacing the section stops them from returning.
Can a sewer line be repaired without digging up my driveway?
Often. Lining and pipe bursting need only small access points, so driveways, pavers and landscaping above the line can stay in place. The pipe has to be in a condition that allows lining, which the camera inspection shows.
What should I do if sewage is backing up?
Stop using water in the house so more wastewater does not come up, keep people and pets away from it, and call. Sewage backups are handled by our emergency plumbing services at any hour.