3 Things to Know About Sewer Line Repair

Drain piping, grey plastic pipes various diameters connecting into one stock photo
Everyone with plumbing has a sewer, meaning that everyone with a plumbing system also has sewer problems and will eventually require sewer line repairs.

While they’re a common part of the indoor plumbing experience, they’re not always the easiest to deal with – especially if the problem has gone undetected for a long period of time!

Luckily, your local drain, sewer, and plumbing company, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Omaha, is here to help! Not only with the 24/7 emergency sewer line repairs in Omaha whenever you need them the most, but we’re also here with three of the most important things you should know about sewer line repair:

1. Sewer Line Concerns Should Be Taken Seriously

Whether you’ve spotted a smelly puddle of water in your front lawn, your toilet bowl water level is widely inconsistent, or you’re noticing frequently clogged drains, it’s important to take all of your sewer line problems seriously.

If sewer problems are left untreated for long enough, you could be faced with the following:

Sewage Backup

If your sewer line is clogged, blocked by a tree root, or overwhelmed by heavy rainwater, sewage backup will occur in the main sewer line. Raw sewage has nowhere else to go except back into your home through your sink, toilet, bathtub, and other plumbing fixtures.

It’s important to be aware of sewage backup before it becomes a major catastrophe. Some early warning signs of sewage backup include:

Smell of sewage odor coming from drains or rooms drains are in
Sewage odor around the exterior of your building
Gurgling sounds, bubbles, and other drain problems
Frequently stopped sinks or more than one clogged drain

Unsafe Conditions

Once sewage enters your property via leaks or backup, loads of bacteria, parasites, viruses, and other sewage containments are introduced into the fibers of your carpet, under baseboards, flooring, and more. This creates extremely unsafe and unsanitary conditions to live in!

Exposing yourself or others to raw sewage can lead to:

Bacterial infections
Headaches
Weakness
Nausea
Fevers
Cramps

Property Damage

While the sewer line will need to be repaired, and any areas affected by sewage will need to be fully sanitized, the water damage will also need to be dealt with. This is one thing that really shows the importance of treating your sewer line repairs early and avoiding thousands of dollars in property loss!

2. There Are Different Types of Sewer Line Repair

No matter the cause of your broken sewer line, there’s hope when you have to seek out professional sewer line repair. And while there are many different methods of sewer line repair, all with their own sets of pros and cons and scenarios they work best in, at Mr. Rooter, we offer two main types of sewer line repair in Omaha:

Traditional Sewer Pipe Repair

As the name suggests, traditional sewer pipe repair is the original method of repairing broken sewer lines. This method involves excavating the area around the damaged line and providing the plumbers the space to complete any repairs or replacements.

Pros of traditional sewer line repair:

It may be the best solution if a section of a pipe needs to be replaced due to damage or improper installation in the first place.
Property damage can be minimal if only a small section of a sewer line needs to be replaced.
Gives plumbers the optimal view of the sewer line damage to ensure an effective and efficient sewer line repair or replacement.

Cons of traditional sewer line repair:

Regardless of where the sewer line is located, the area must be dug out by heavy machinery, resulting in property damage to hardscaping, landscaping, and even the interior of your home.
The final cost of the sewer line repair can be more than the service itself due to the amount of repair that’s needed to restore your property.

Trenchless Sewer Line Repair

On the other hand, trenchless sewer line repair has only been around since the early ‘70s and really gained popularity in the last decade or so. This method is usually done to reline a pipe and only uses one entrance and one exit, significantly cutting down the amount of landscaping, drywall, or flooring that will need to be removed.

Pros of trenchless sewer line repair:

Effective repairs that are less invasive than traditional sewer line methods.
Long-lasting repairs that are completed quickly and often done in one day.
Trenchless sewer line repair tends to be more cost-effective due to the small amount of equipment required and repairs needed.

Cons of trenchless sewer line repair:

Sewer lines can be too old or damaged to be relined via a trenchless repair.
Trenchless relining won’t always work in every situation, and a replacement may end up being the best choice for longevity.

3. DIY Plumbing Should Be Avoided at All Costs

No matter the sewage problem, turn to a professional plumber for help getting down to the bottom of it and locating the best fix. While you may be considering DIY repairs like the rest of your plumbing system, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional plumber instead.

Why? Not only can amateur plumbing work lead to more complications for your system but attempting DIY sewer repair can expose you to hazardous conditions. To make sure that the problem is fixed with accuracy and you’re kept safe, let your local plumbers handle it.

Even if you feel like writing it off as a minor inconvenience or putting it off, having a plumber complete a video camera inspection to see the inside of your sewer can help you be triple sure no problem is wrong. When sewage entering your home is possible, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Can Sewer Problems Be Prevented?

Yes, the majority of sewer line issues can be prevented with preventive plumbing maintenance and knowing how to properly care for your system. Here are some things you can do to prevent sewer line issues:

Drain cleaning to prevent clogs
Plumbing repairs to solve issues early
Properly dispose of cooking grease
Don’t flush items that should be tossed
Maintain tree and shrub roots
Replace old sewer lines ASAP

But remember: plumbing systems can be unpredictable. While regular plumbing maintenance can certainly prevent a multitude of common sewer line problems and reduce your chance of needing major sewer line repairs in the future, some sewer line problems will happen with little to no warning, and not even because you did anything wrong!

Request Sewer Services from Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Omaha

If you’re dealing with sewer line problems in Omaha, turn to none other than Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Omaha for help! With the help of our team, you’ll be able to understand why your sewer and plumbing system is acting the way it is and what you can do about it.

Homeowners and businesses alike turn to our Omaha plumbers because we’re:

Locally owned and operated right off Highway 275, meaning we’re only a few minutes away from your home or business in Omaha.
Supported, trained, and professionally backed by Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a leader in plumbing services with more than 50 years of national experience.
Comprised of a team of licensed and qualified Omaha plumbers, committed to ensuring your plumbing repair is completed correctly the first time around.

From our upfront and honest job estimates to superior customer service and workmanship, there’s no wonder why we’ve become the go-to plumbing, drain, and sewer company for many residents in Omaha. And don’t just take our word for it either, be sure to check out our customer reviews to learn more about our sewer line repairs in Omaha!

Contact us online to request your sewer line job estimate from our team today to get started!