Drain Line Repair and Replacement

As discussed in our previous article, some drain cleaning and maintenance tasks can be safely completed by a homeowner.  But all drain line repair and replacement should be handled by plumbing professionals.  Errors in the repair or replacement of sewer drain lines may cause clogged lines, possible leaks and/or back-up of sewage into the home.  Be sure to call your plumbing pros at My Georgia Plumber in the event of a drain line replacement or sewer line repair.

Drain Line Repair

Sometimes the only option to a clogged drain line is the repair or replacement of a sewer line or section of line.  This is especially true if a sewer camera reveals that you have any of the following problems:

• Broken, cracked or collapsed pipe due to shifting soil, frozen ground, settling, etc.
• Severe grease buildup or a foreign object restricting flow.
• Corrosion of an older pipe that caused the pipe to break or collapse.
• A “bellied” pipe where a section of the pipe has sunk due to ground or soil conditions, creating a low spot in the line where paper and waste collect and cause repeated blockages.
• Leaking joints where the seals between sections of pipe have broken, allowing water and sewage to escape.

An excessive amount of roots in the line that cannot be cleared using a sewer machine.

Tree Roots and Drain Clogs

One of the most common causes of main line clogs are tree roots.  While searching for water tree roots will often find a source of nutrient rich water seaping through a crack in a sewer pipe.  As the roots make their way inside the drain line, paper and other solid material get caught and cause blockages and eventually as the roots continue to grow will block the flow of water through the line.

A professional plumber can safely use drain cleaning equipment to clear small roots, but after roots have grown for many years, the sewer line may need to be replaced. We can run a sewer camera down the line to help you decide whether you need to replace the entire line or just a section of it.

Sewer Cams and Sewer Clogs

Fiber optic video camera allow plumbing contractors to actually see into pipes to determine the cause of stubborn blockages and determine the condition of the line itself.

The images captured by the camera are transmitted to a device operated by the plumber. These images are recorded for further review by you and the plumber. At the same time, a radio transmitter on the camera records the physical location of the line and its depth from the surface so that the appropriate repairs can be properly planned and implemented.

Drain Line Replacement

Once you know that a section of sewer line or the entire sewer line must be replaced, our plumber will talk to you about the various ways of doing it.

Traditional Sewer Line Repair/Replacements are typically performed using a backhoe to dig up the area surrounding the line so that the plumber can gain access to it. Once the repair is made, the backhoe is used to refill the area.

Trenchless Repair Methods involve making small access holes where the damaged pipe starts and ends; then, lining the old pipe with an advanced, patented epoxy resin reinforced with layers of fiberglass meshing. You can also think of pipe lining as the placement of a brand new pipe inside of your existing pipe. Trenchless repairs cause less damage to yards and driveways than traditional repair methods because only the dirt at the beginning and end of the line is disturbed.