Sewer line repair, from the first dig to the last patch
When a sewer line is broken, root-damaged or worn out, Brett Sabol's crew finds the problem, digs to it, replaces the pipe and puts your yard, driveway or sidewalk back together. One company, start to finish.
Signs the problem is in the sewer line
One slow sink is usually a local clog. When the whole house is affected, the main line is the suspect.
- Several drains backing up or gurgling at the same time
- Sewage coming up through a basement floor drain or tub
- Sewer odor in the basement or the yard
- A soggy or sunken spot over the line in the yard
- Clogs that come back no matter how often they are cleared
- Large trees near the sewer line and a history of root problems
How a sewer repair comes together
Every photo below is from a real Brett Sabol job.
Find the problem before anything is dug
Not every backup means a broken pipe. Sometimes the line just needs to be cleared or jetted. When it is damaged, the work starts by pinning down where, so the dig is as small as it can be.
Opening an access hole beside a house. 
Digging down to a line in a backyard. Dig safely to the line
Deep trenches get braced with shoring, like the one pictured, so the crew can work safely. Lawns, driveways and walks are opened only as far as the repair needs, in summer heat or winter snow.
Trench shoring on a sewer job. 
A long trench across a front lawn. Repair or replace the pipe
Damaged, aging or root-broken sections are replaced with new pipe, and cleanouts can be added so the line can be reached for clearing in the future without digging again.
Setting cleanout risers on a new sewer line. 
New sewer pipe in a braced excavation. Put the property back together
The trench is backfilled and compacted, and the yard, driveway or sidewalk patched, so the job is finished, not just the pipe.
Compacting the patch after a dig, with the van on site. 
Rebuilding the sidewalk base after the work underneath is done.
Worth a second opinion
A sewer replacement is a big job. Before you agree to one, make sure it is really needed.
When jetting is enoughCalled Brett in a panic after the first plumbing company we called came out, charged us to say that the sewage pipe was broken (root damage) and blocked and we needed someone with an excavator and camera. Brett sent someone over within like 2 hours of our call, figured out where the pipe access point was outside (which the other plumber said didn’t exist) and then snaked it, cleared the pipe (got the plumbing working again) and confirmed no damage to the sewage pipe . All done quickly, professionally for an extremely fair price. He was recommended by a friend and i will never use another plumber as long as he’s in business. Highly recommend!
Sewer line questions
No. Many backups are buildup, grease or roots that can be cleared or jetted without digging. Digging is for pipe that is broken, crushed or separated. Finding out which one you have comes first.
Sewer backing up? Call before it gets worse.
Stop running water and call the shop. For a repair you are planning, send a request with what you are seeing.
More from the same crew
- Residential PlumbingLeaks, repairs, fixtures, toilets and water heaters for your home.
- Commercial PlumbingLight commercial plumbing for offices, retail and multi-unit buildings.
- Jet Drain CleaningHigh-pressure water jetting for grease, roots and stubborn clogs.
- HeatingHot-water boilers, radiant heat piping and water heaters.
- Backflow TestingCertified backflow testing and preventer repair.