St. Louis, Missouri, Sewer Repair. A broken sewer line can mean more than just plumbing problems. If left unchecked, sewage leaks and backups can create health hazards, property damage, and more issues that can be expensive and time consuming to undo. At Signature Plumbing, we're dedicated to providing you with sewer repair services fast.
On this page, we'll go over the causes, dangers, and repair process for sewer line problems. Read on to learn more about:
- Warning signs that you might need sewer repair services
- Common causes of damage to sewer lines
- The risks of allowing sewer problems to go on too long
Our plumbing professionals are ready to help with all of your Missouri home's plumbing needs. You can call us at (636) 742-2533 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
Sewer Repair Page Summary
A sewer repair can come in many forms, and the damage can display a variety of symptoms. Below, we look at typical signs that repairs are needed, some common causes of sewer line damage, the repair process itself, and the risks of letting it go without fixes.
You can jump ahead to a specific section using the links below:
- Signs Your St. Louis Home Needs Sewer Line Repairs
- How Do Sewer Line Repairs Work?
- Dangers of Damaged Sewer Lines in St. Louis, Missouri
- Schedule St. Louis, Missouri, Sewer Repair Services Today
4 Signs Your St. Louis Home Needs Sewer Line Repairs
Broken sewer lines can have different effects on different homes in St. Louis, Missouri, but there are some common warning signs to be aware of. Most symptoms fall into one of the following buckets – if you're noticing one or (especially) more of these, give us a call so we can perform an inspection and/or sewer repair:
- Drains Backing Up, especially in the basement. When water is flowing back up multiple drains in your house, this is a clear indicator that something further down the chain is causing issues (often your sewer line). The basement is typically the most affected area, because it's the last stop before water exits your home into the sewer.
- Foul Odors around your drains or in your yard. A rotten or fecal smell is a key giveaway that you need sewer repair services. This can occur around drains because of sewage backups, and in your yard if there is a leak under your lawn.
- Persistent Wet Spots in your yard, and extra green patches of grass. Just like in point 2, if there is a leak under your lawn, wastewater flows out into it. The wet spots will often be localized around the break. And grass will often look a richer shade of green as it absorbs nutrients from the sewage.
- Gurgling Noises when you flush or send water down your drains. Gurgling noises are the sound of air getting stuck in the pipes and trying to escape. A small amount is normal, but excessive and repeated gurgling can mean that a crack somewhere in your home's plumbing is letting in extra air. If this is widespread, the crack could be in your sewer line.
Repeat and Widespread Drain Issues
You might have read the list above and thought to yourself, "How can I tell if that's because of a sewer issue or an appliance problem?" And that's a great question – at face value, a lot of the symptoms are the same. But the key difference is where and how often the issues pop up in your home.
The lower the issues occur, the more likely it is that your sewer is the culprit. Because sewage normally flows down and out of your home at lower elevation points, if there's a problem with the main line, it will be more noticeable there. That said, main sewer line problems also tend to show widespread symptoms, so if you're noticing the same issue (odor, gurgling, etc.) across multiple areas in your house, it is also more likely that your home needs a sewer repair.
Similarly, if the issues keep coming back, it's more likely to be a sewer problem. Cleaning or fixing an individual appliance only helps if there isn't something else further down the line that's the true cause.
Reasons Behind Sewer Line Problems
When working on the water and/or sewer line repairs, sometimes the issue is smaller. If you're lucky, the fix could be as simple as cleaning your sewer. But if you're having constant, major issues, you might be dealing with the following:
- Corrosion
- Clogs/Blockages
- Cross Bores
- Tree Roots
- Ground Shifting
Beyond these common ones, there are many potential causes behind St. Louis, Missouri, sewage problems. Working with an expert professional plumber helps you accurately diagnose the issue and set up a sewer repair fast.
How Do Sewer Line Repairs Work?
There are many ways to conduct a sewer repair in St. Louis, Missouri, and picking the right one is important to save you time and money. Fortunately, an experienced professional plumber will look for the least intrusive option to fix the problem.
Assessing damage with pipe inspections
We'll use one of our state-of-the-art drain cameras for a quick, yet thorough, pipe inspection. Our cameras let us look at your pipes from the inside out, and identify sewer repair needs.
Low-impact repair methods
For smaller damage/cracks, we can use pipe bursting, pipe lining, or sectional point repair techniques for sewer repair. These methods let us thread the existing sewer pipes, avoiding digging up your whole yard.
Sewer line excavation
For larger issues, it may be necessary to excavate your sewer line. This normally means digging a trench down to the sewer line, then repairing or replacing it in a more hands-on fashion.
Sewer Cleanout Installation
We can help get ahead of future issues by installing a sewer cleanout. This is a convenient access point to your sewer line that can help with future sewer repairs, minimizing their disruption.
Plumbing Emergencies
Sometimes, the damage is severe and you need a fix now. If you're facing a plumbing emergency, we will send someone out to your home ASAP to take care of the problem.
On a less technical side, when you're organizing and paying for repairs, you can check with your local government for support. For example, St. Louis City and St. Louis County each may offer assistance programs that can help you out if your home is in the area.
Dangers of Damaged Sewer Lines in St. Louis
A broken sewer line isn't just gross – it can have far-reaching negative impacts. If you let a damaged sewer line go without repairs, you're risking the following:
Health Hazards
It's probably not a surprise that sewage contains harmful waste products. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are all able to grow in your sewer lines. These can include Hepatitis A, Salmonella, dysentery, and E. coli. Leaks can expose you to all of these, whether you walk into a sewage puddle, get it into a cut, or even if you just breathe in the fumes.
Property Damage
Sewer damage can extend into further property damage. Leaks behind your walls and under your floors can result in wet rot, which will eat away at the structure of your house. If it reaches an electric appliance or system, it can cause short circuits and permanent damage. And if it gets on your furniture, you can expect stains, swelling, and ruined finishes.
Environmental Harm
As the sewage spreads, the pollution creates harm for the environment. In rivers, it can harm fish populations, while on land, mammals are put at risks to several of the same diseases as humans. Additionally, some of the algae that grow in sewage give off toxins, compounding the damage.
Pest Attraction
Rodents and bugs are drawn to the nutrients in sewage. This can be especially bad if you have a crack in your sewer line under your yard: Pests can enter the line through holes in the pipe, then climb up into your home. In Missouri, common pest infestations include ants, bed bugs, cockroaches, rodents, spiders, and termites.
Sewer overflow is dangerous. And the longer it goes on, the worse it gets. Getting sewer repair services early limits the damage and starts to reverse it.
Do You Need Sewer Repair Services ASAP in St. Louis? Call Signature Plumbing
Signature Plumbing has been serving St. Louis, Missouri, since 2011. Whatever sewer or other plumbing problems you're facing, you've come to the right place. When you hire Signature Plumbing, you're getting:
- Emergency availability with fast response times
- A clear pricing structure without hidden fees
- Local experts who know about the specific sewer challenges Missouri homes face
- A team dedicated to providing high-quality, low-stress service to St. Louis customers.
Whether you know your sewer line needs repairs, or you just need an inspection to see what's going on, we're ready for your call. You can reach us at (636) 742-2533 or set up an appointment online today.