Sewer Line Spot Repair

December 07, 2015

When homeowners start experiencing issues with their sewer lines, they usually aren’t in a good mood. Sewer lines should last around 50 years, and nobody looks forward to the time when they need to be replaced. Sometimes when problems start arising, the entire sewer line doesn’t need to be replaced. A plumber, using new methods and technologies, may be able to perform spot repair. A spot repair focuses on fixing only the broken part of the pipe and is a great option is some circumstances, but many homeowners are still unfamiliar with and have questions about spot repairs.

When Is Spot Repair Appropriate?

Sometimes when a sewer pipe starts  experiencing issues, there are signs. Your drains may start backing up or clogging, your toilet water levels might rise and fall and you may smell foul odors around drains or in your yard. The sewage may start seeping into the ground in your yard, making it soggy and attracting rats and other nasty vermin. All of these are possible signs, but you’ll never really know if spot repair is an option until you have a plumber take a look. Plumbers can lower tiny cameras into a drain to get a good look at the problem. If the entire pipe is in bad condition it will need to be replaced, but if the damage is only in one location, a spot repair can be performed.

Why Choose a Spot Repair?

There are many benefits to choosing spot repair over replacing the entire line, but the biggest is cost effectiveness. Spot repair is much less expensive than repairing or replacing the entire pipe, which can cost several thousand dollars, and still fixes the issues you are having. Another advantage is that the repair is quicker and less invasive (requires less digging) than a complete replacement. A spot repair fixes the problem without risking damage to any other utility lines, such as electric or gas. Once the repair has been completed, the line is impervious to some of the problems that may have caused the break in the first place, such as tree roots.

How Are Spot Repairs Performed?

Rather than digging any holes, a flexible pipe liner is inserted into a drain and placed at the problem area. This liner is flexible enough to get into the pipe, but once it is in place it molds to the sides of the pipes and hardens, creating a waterproof seal. It may not seem like the most foolproof method, but the lining can hold up for upwards of 50 years


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