Sewer pipes won't remain intact forever. Roots invade, extreme seasonal shifts burst seams, and overall wear weakens the strength of older lines. Most likely your home will stay standing longer than the lifetime of your sewer line, and that means the time will come when you will need to call a plumber.

Iron was once the gold standard in plumbing pipelines, including the lateral line, which drains from your property into the city sewer main. When this pipe ruptures, often the best choice is to replace the iron with new ABS pipe that will not face the same risk in the future.

Another modern sewer line replacement strategy is known as trenchless plumbing. This strategy enables a plumber to fix the sewer line without tearing up your lawn. One type of trenchless sewer line repair is known as the "bursting method": Contracters will insert a new pipeline through the existing, burst pipe. This further expands the old pipeline to make room for the replacement.

A second trenchless sewer line repair approach is the "lining method." Using this method, plumbers will insert a flexible tube through the old sewer line and inflate it. This lining will then cover up any leaks in the existing pipe. Better still, the lining can easily be taken out and fixed (or switched out) if future problems arise.

Even with trenchless sewer line repair, it is possible for invasive roots to repeat their damage. In addition to repairing the desctruction in the line, contracters may consider impeding root growth toward the sewer pipe for any nearby heavy foliage.

The cost of sewer line repair dramatically changes depending on the contracter doing the work and how much work has to be done. Some sewer pipes run underneath garages, driveways, or landscaping. Especially under these conditions, trenchless replacement can be a worthwhile alternative. When choosing a plumber, receive quotes from at least 2 different bidders. Ensure that all of the quotes include exactly the same items. Plumbers often charge quite different rates for similar labor. Also be sure to get in writing the agreed-upon state of your property after the work is done. That is to say, if a contracter does have to dig through your property or necessitate other cleanup work, it should be clear whose duty it is -- theirs or yours -- to clean it up.

Any time you receive a price quote for a sewer fix, have a sense of whether similar repairs will have to be have to be performed in the very near future. Especially in older houses (or newer houses connecting to an older sewer pipeline), it may be worth funding an entire replacement project instead of band-aid-style repairs, so that you won't have to stomach a similar inconvenience a few years from now. Many plumbing companies such as sewer repair services Tacoma WA provide a warranty on sewer line replacement, some of them for as long as you own the property.