Sewer Lines · Camera and trenchless
Sewer Line Repair
When sewage backs up, the problem is usually the main line between your home and the street. We find the exact failure with a camera and repair it in the least disruptive way your pipe allows.
CSLB #C-000000 · Licensed & insured
Office open 7 days a week. Emergency plumbers on call 24/7.
When to call
Signs you need sewer line repair
- Several drains backing up at once, or a toilet that gurgles when the shower or washer runs
- Sewage odors in the yard, in the garage or near the cleanout
- Lush, unusually green or soggy patches of lawn along the path of the line
- Main-line clogs that return again and again after cabling
- A sunken strip of lawn or driveway, or new cracks along the line
- An older home still on its original clay, cast iron or Orangeburg sewer pipe
What you get
The ABC Plumbing difference
- Daniel Alvarado, our Operations Manager, earned his journeyman card in 2008 and leads our sewer camera and trenchless work
- A recorded camera inspection, so you watch the failure on screen and keep the footage
- Every repair method quoted side by side in a written flat-rate price, with the diagnostic fee credited toward the repair if you go ahead
- Permits and inspections coordinated for you, and 811 called for utility marking before any digging
- Landscaping, driveways and hardscape protected, with the site restored when we finish
- A written workmanship warranty: 5 years on sewer replacement and lining, 1 year on repairs
Repair options
Ways to fix a sewer line
The right method depends on your pipe, how deep it runs and what sits above it. We quote every option that fits, so you can compare.
Spot repair
Replaces only the damaged section, such as a cracked joint or a failed fitting. Best when the rest of the line is sound.
Trenchless pipe lining
A new pipe is cured inside the old one with little digging, protecting landscaping, patios and driveways. Many liners go in during a single day.
Pipe bursting
A new pipe is pulled through as the old one is broken apart underground, replacing the whole run from two small access points.
Open-trench replacement
Used when other methods will not hold, such as a collapsed pipe or a severe belly. It is the most disruptive option, and sometimes the right one.
Root cutting and jetting
Clears roots and buildup now, which is a reasonable stopgap while you decide. Roots grow back unless the joints are sealed.
Cleanouts and backwater valves
A cleanout gives us a clean path to camera and clear the line. A backwater valve helps keep a street-main backup out of your home.
How a sewer repair goes
From camera to clean ground
- 01
Camera inspection
We run a camera down the cleanout, record the whole run and show you the failure on screen.
- 02
Locate and quote
The problem is located by depth and distance and marked on the surface. You get each option that fits, with a written price.
- 03
Repair
Permits are pulled, 811 is called and the repair is made with your landscaping and driveway protected.
- 04
Verify and restore
A final camera run and flow test prove the line is sound, and then the site is restored and cleaned up.
Camera inspection first
We run a camera down the cleanout and locate the problem by depth and distance, recording the footage. You see the cracked joint, belly or root mass yourself, and we mark it on the surface.
The recording is yours to keep. You can share it with your insurance company, your HOA, or a neighbor if the line is shared.
Choosing a repair method
Pipe material, depth, offsets and what sits above the line all matter. Lining works well in pipe that is sound enough to hold a liner, but it cannot fix a collapsed section or a deep belly where water pools. Bursting suits old clay or cast iron that has not collapsed. Open trench is used when other methods will not hold.
We explain which suits your pipe and your yard and quote each option.
Roots and recurring clogs
Mature eucalyptus, ficus and pepper trees send roots looking for moisture, and the joints of older clay pipe give them a way in. Cutting the roots clears the line for now, but they grow back.
Lining or replacement seals the joints and keeps them out. Root cutting is a fair stopgap while you decide, and we will tell you plainly when it has stopped being a good use of your money.
Permits and cleanup
Sewer work requires permits and inspection. We coordinate with the city, call 811 for utility marking, and restore the site when we finish.
Landscaping, hardscape and driveways are protected before we dig, and all debris is hauled away. Any sod, pavers or concrete restoration is scoped and priced in writing before the work begins.
Sewage backup? Call immediately.
Stop using water in the house and call. Our emergency line is answered 24/7, and we can camera the line to find the failure.
FAQ
Common questions about sewer line repair
Still unsure? The quickest answer is a two-minute call. We will never pressure you into a visit you do not need.
Call 1-800-555-0199The homeowner is generally responsible for the lateral from the house to the connection at the main.
Sewer Line Repair · Laguna Beach and the coast
Need sewer line repair today?
Call and speak with a local, licensed plumber. You get a clear price before any work starts, and a tidy job when we leave.
Office open 7 days a week. Emergency plumbers on call 24/7.
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Sewer Line Repair for homes and businesses in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Dana Point, plus the neighborhoods in between. See all service areas.