Sewer Line Inspection and Repair
Camera inspections, root problems and old laterals repaired, lined or replaced in Cuyahoga Falls and nearby towns.
The sewer lateral is the pipe that carries everything from the house to the city's main under the street. In older Cuyahoga Falls neighborhoods many laterals are clay or cast iron, laid when the houses were built, and the maples and oaks planted along the same streets have had decades to find their joints. Roots and aging pipe are behind most of the sewer calls we get.
Camera Inspection
A waterproof camera on a push cable goes into the line through a cleanout or a pulled toilet and travels out toward the street. The live picture shows roots, cracks, offset joints, scale in cast iron and low spots where water sits. A locator on the surface marks where the camera head is and how deep, so a problem can be found from above without guessing.
An inspection is the first step whenever a main line clogs more than once, when a house is being bought or sold, or before deciding between repair, lining and replacement. Clearing the line first, usually with a cable or water jetting, lets the camera see the pipe itself.
Warning Signs of a Sewer Problem
- Several drains slow at the same time, especially on the lowest floor.
- The basement floor drain backs up when the washer drains or a toilet flushes.
- Sewage odors from floor drains, the cleanout or the yard.
- Soggy, sunken or unusually green patches over the line in the yard.
- Gurgling toilets and drains when water runs elsewhere in the house.
Repair, Lining or Replacement
| Method | Best for | Digging needed | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | One broken joint or a short damaged section | One pit at the problem | Only fixes that spot; the rest of the line has to be sound |
| Lining | Cracked or root-damaged pipe that still holds its shape | Little or none; access at a cleanout or a small pit | Cannot fix a belly or collapse; slightly narrows the pipe |
| Replacement | Collapsed, badly sagging or crumbling pipe | A trench along the line, or pits for trenchless bursting | Most disruption, but a whole new pipe |
Which method fits depends on what the camera finds. A sound line with one bad joint gets a spot repair. A cracked but round pipe can often be lined from inside. A collapsed or deeply sagging section has to be replaced, at least where it failed.
What Changes the Scope of a Sewer Job
Tick what you know about your line and press the button to see how each one changes the work. There are no prices here: every line is quoted after a camera inspection.
Tick the factors that fit your line, then press the button.
Call 811 Before Any Digging
Ohio law requires that underground utilities be marked before anyone digs. A call to 811, the Ohio Utilities Protection Service, at least two working days ahead gets gas, electric, water and communication lines marked. The contractor doing the excavation makes the call; homeowners digging themselves must call too.
Sewer Line Questions
Why do tree roots get into sewer lines?
Roots grow toward water and the warmth of the line. Older clay pipe comes in short sections joined every few feet, and a hairline gap at a joint is enough for a fine root to slip in. Once inside it grows into a mat that catches paper and grease. Cutting roots out restores flow, but they come back to the same joint until it is sealed or replaced.
Is my clay or cast iron sewer pipe due for replacement?
Not automatically. Many old lines still have years left. A camera inspection shows the condition joint by joint: roots, cracks, scale, offset joints or a section that has sagged. A line with one bad spot is repaired; a line with problems along its whole length is a candidate for lining or replacement.
Who is responsible for the sewer lateral?
In most Ohio communities the property owner is responsible for the lateral from the house to the public sewer main, sometimes including the part under the sidewalk or street. The rules differ from city to city, so check with the City of Cuyahoga Falls, or the town you live in, before planning work near the street.
Several drains backing up at once? Call us before the next load of laundry.