How To Tell If You Need Sewer Replacement Or Just Repair

Your sewer system is one of those things in your home that you don't really think about until something goes wrong. Maybe you have a bad smell coming from a wet spot in your yard, or your toilet begins gurgling frequently. The costs of replacing your whole sewer system can be easily over $10,000, so the best way to keep costs down is to find the problem before more damage is done.

Remember, your sewer lines will not last forever. The older they are, the more likely you will have problems. If you own an older home, one that was built prior to 1980 and have never upgraded your pipes, they are probably made out of clay, steel or another material that can begin to break down. These older pipes can easily be broken from tree roots seeking out the moisture in the pipes, or by a gunky buildup of grease and other byproducts of everyday living in your home. Over the years, this greasy, nasty stuff will slowly clog your pipes and will need to be cleaned out. You may think that running your sewer snake through the pipe can alleviate any of these problems from occurring, but in actuality, every time you put that snake through, you are damaging your pipes even more.

So how do you know whether your line needs to be repaired or fully replaced? If you are seeing wet sinkholes in your yard and smelling sewage, most likely the sewer line will need to be completely replaced, and this is a very expensive operation to have done. Costs can easily accumulate if there are trees that need to cut down and ground up to get to the sewer line, if your sewer line runs close to the gas line and that needs to be taken care of as well, and if the city's sewer line does not go directly to your home, the cost of tearing up the road may also be added on. All in all, replacing your sewer lines can easily cost between $5000 and $10,000! Before you go all out and spend the money, a good idea is to run a camera down through the whole line and see where the problem lies. Paying $300 is alot better than paying $10,000 for a full sewer replacement if you don't need one.

How do you find someone to replace your sewer? You may want to just call the first plumber you find in the yellow pages, but it will be in your best interest to call three or four different plumbers and get the best estimate for the job. Save yourself some money by following these simple tasks ahead of time. Be sure you talk to each plumber and check his credentials. The lowest price may not always be the smartest move. Choose the plumbing contractor that has the most experience and gives the best estimate.