Sewer Line Repair & Replacement

A sewer service line carries everything from the house to the City's main under the street. When it fails, the signs are repeated backups in the lowest drain, gurgling toilets, a sewage smell in the basement, or roots found every time the line is snaked. Older lines made of clay tile or cast iron crack and separate at the joints, and tree roots find those gaps.

The first step is always a camera inspection. It shows where the problem is, how long the damaged section is and what the pipe is made of, and it is the only honest basis for a price. A single broken joint may be a spot repair. A line that is cracked along its length needs replacing, either by digging a trench or by a trenchless method: lining the old pipe from the inside, or pulling a new pipe through while bursting the old one. Trenchless work saves the lawn, driveway and trees but is not possible on every line, for example where the old pipe has collapsed or has a deep sag.

The City of Calgary lists replacing water and sewer lines in or around the home as work that needs a plumbing permit. When a sewer backs up, the City can snake to the main to find out whether the blockage is on private or public property; if it is on yours, the repair is yours. Ask any contractor to show you the camera footage, to state in the quote which method they will use and where, and to include the permit and restoration of the ground.