Sewer Line Repair and Replacement in Middle Tennessee
- Licensed and insured plumbing, HVAC and electrical techs
- Tennessee Limited Licensed Plumber 5279
Every drain in your house empties into one pipe, the sewer line, which runs underground to the city sewer or a septic tank. When it cracks, sags or fills with roots, the whole house feels it: slow drains everywhere, gurgling toilets, a smell in the yard, or sewage coming up the lowest drain.
We'll find out what's wrong and where before any digging starts. Then we'll explain what we found and give you a firm price for the repair that fits, whether that's one section or the whole line.
Signs you need sewer lines help
- Several drains slow or backing up at once
- Toilets that gurgle or bubble when other fixtures drain
- Sewage coming up through a floor drain, tub or shower
- A sewer smell inside the house or in the yard
- A patch of grass that is greener, soggier or sinking over the line
- Main line clogs that keep coming back
- Roots found in the line the last time it was cleared
What we do
Camera inspection and locating
A camera run through the line shows what the problem is: roots, a crack, a separated joint, a sag that holds water, or a collapse. A locator above ground marks where it is and how deep.
Sectional repair
When the damage is in one place, the line is opened at that spot and the bad section is replaced with new pipe and proper couplings.
Full line replacement
When the line is failing along its length, it is replaced from the house to the connection at the city sewer or the septic tank, set to the slope the code requires so waste keeps moving.
Cleanouts
Adding a cleanout outside the house where there isn't one, so the line can be reached and inspected without pulling a toilet.
New construction and renovations
Building sewer lines for new homes and additions, from the house to the connection, coordinated with the rest of the plumbing rough-in.
Repair or replace?
A single root intrusion or one cracked joint is usually a repair. The rest of the line may have plenty of life left, and replacing all of it wouldn't make sense.
Replacement makes more sense when the inspection shows damage along much of the line, when an older material like clay, cast iron or fiber pipe (sometimes called Orangeburg) is failing in several places, or when the line has sagged so waste settles in it. We'll show you what the inspection found, explain what it means, and price both options.
What it costs, and how we price it
What drives the price
- Repair of one section or replacement of the whole line
- How long the line is and how deep it runs
- What sits above it: lawn is simpler than a driveway, patio or mature tree
- The repair method that fits the pipe, the damage and the ground
- Soil and rock conditions along the route
- Permits, inspections and any work at the city connection the utility requires
- The diagnostic visit
- Free. We come look, find the cause and explain it.
- Your price
- Firm price given before any work starts.
- How we price
- Priced per job. Each job is priced on its own.
- Why prices stay down
- Low overhead, and the work done right the first time with current methods, equipment and quality materials, so you are not paying for callbacks.
How a visit works
Call or text
Call or text (615) 426-9344 and tell us what's going on. A photo helps. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A free diagnostic visit
We come look, find the cause and explain it in plain words. The visit is free.
A firm price before any work starts
You get the price for the job before we begin, so you can decide with real numbers.
The work, done right the first time
Current methods, good equipment and quality materials. We keep overhead low and skip the callbacks, which keeps prices down.
Follow-up
If anything we worked on gives you trouble, call or text the same number.
Urgent
Sewage coming up a drain?
- Stop using water in the house: no flushing, no faucets, no washer or dishwasher.
- Keep people and pets away from the water. Sewage carries bacteria.
- Then call us at (615) 426-9344.
We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Outside those hours, shut off what you can, stay safe, and call or text first thing.
Who is responsible for the sewer line, me or the city?
In many places, you own the line from the house to the city sewer main or to the property line, and the utility owns the rest. Where that split falls depends on your city or utility, so it's worth checking with them before any digging.
If your home is on a septic system, the line from the house to the tank is yours.
What are the signs of roots in a sewer line?
Slow drains throughout the house, and main line clogs that come back every few months, are the common signs. Tree roots grow toward the water in a sewer line and find their way in through small cracks and loose joints. Older clay pipe is especially prone.
Clearing the roots restores flow for a while, but they grow back until the opening they came through is repaired.
Can a sewer line be replaced without digging up the yard?
Sometimes. Trenchless methods can line the old pipe from the inside or pull a new pipe through the old one from small access pits, which leaves much less of the yard torn up.
They don't fit every line. Collapsed pipe, heavy sags and some pipe materials still need a trench. After an inspection, we'll tell you straight which approaches fit your line.
Is it a clog or a broken line?
A clog in one fixture stays in that fixture. When several drains back up together, the problem is in the main line, and it may be a clog or damaged pipe. If the line clogs again soon after it's cleared, roots or broken pipe are likely. A camera inspection settles the question, so you're not guessing with your money.
Common questions
Is the diagnostic visit really free?
Yes. We'll come look at the problem for free, tell you what's wrong and give you a firm price before any work starts. You decide from there.
How do you find the problem in a sewer line?
With a camera inspection. A small camera run through the line from a cleanout shows what is wrong and where, and a locator above ground marks the spot and the depth. That way only the problem area gets opened.
How long does sewer line repair take?
It depends on the length and depth of the line, what's above it and the method that fits. We'll tell you what to expect when we give you the price.
Will I need a permit?
Sewer line repair and replacement often needs a permit and inspection, and a new connection at the main can involve the utility. We'll tell you what your job needs when we give you the price.
What pipe is used for a new sewer line?
Most new sewer lines are PVC. It resists roots and corrosion, and its smooth walls help keep waste moving. The right pipe and fittings depend on the depth and the local code.
Sewage is coming up a drain. What should I do first?
Stop using water anywhere in the house: no flushing, no faucets, no washer or dishwasher. Keep people and pets away from the water. Then call us at (615) 426-9344. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Do you put in sewer lines for new homes?
Yes. New construction is work Root House specializes in, and the building sewer is part of the plumbing rough-in, coordinated with the rest of the trades.
Related
Plumbing
Why does my house smell like sewer?
A sewer smell indoors usually means sewer gas is getting past a dry drain trap, a failed toilet seal, a blocked vent or a cracked pipe. A dirty sink drain can smell the same. If it could be gas, leave the house first. Otherwise, run water in unused drains. Call a plumber if it lasts more than a day.
Work that holds.
Call or text for sewer lines anywhere we serve in Middle Tennessee.