What are the signs the pipe is failing?
One slow drain is more likely a local clog in that fixture’s pipe.
A line that clears and then clogs again within weeks usually has a root, a sag or a break holding material.
- Several fixtures slow down or back up at the same time.
- Gurgling when water drains or a toilet flushes.
- Sewage smell near the foundation or along the line’s path.
- A wet or sunken strip of yard between the house and the tank.
Is it the sewer line or the tank?
Both cause backups, so the tank is checked first. If it is full, pumping fixes the symptom. If it is not full and the house still backs up, the blockage is probably in the line.
Virginia Tech notes that a blockage at the tank’s inlet means the tank must be pumped and its baffles checked, so the two jobs are often linked. See pumping for what that visit covers.
Look at the order of events. If the first sign was a slow drain at the lowest fixture in the house, the line or tank is the suspect. If only an upstairs fixture is slow, the problem is probably local to that pipe.
How do we find the break?
Camera and probing
A line can be checked with a camera or by probing along its route. Whether a camera is used on your job should be confirmed by phone.
Locating the pipe
The line leaves the house wall and runs roughly straight to the tank, which UGA Extension puts often 10 to 20 feet out. If records are missing, locating the system shows the route.
Should the line be repaired or replaced?
Spot repair
A cracked section or a bad joint can be cut out and replaced, or resealed.
Full replacement
Pipe that sags along its length or is crushed in several places is better replaced. Where the line crosses a driveway, Virginia Tech recommends cast-iron pipe rather than plastic. Septic lines are short and shallow, so repair usually means digging at the problem point.
What causes sewer lines to fail?
Roots enter joints and must be removed and the joints resealed. Soil settling and vehicles can crush pipe. Grease, wipes and other items that do not break down build up in the line, and the what-not-to-flush guide lists what to keep out.
Heavy vehicles driven over the line are another common cause, and so is a house that has settled. Trees planted near the line, including a neighbor’s, are worth watching too.
What should I not do during a backup?
Do not keep running water, since every gallon has nowhere to go. Do not pour drain cleaner into the line; chemicals harm the bacteria in the tank. Do not open the tank yourself.
If sewage is entering the house, call. Dunn Rite takes emergency septic calls around Lynchburg.
If your home is on city sewer instead of septic, the utility owns the main and the owner generally owns the lateral, though it varies. Contact the utility to find out which part is yours.
Pascat photo requestPhoto needed hereExcavated section of cracked sewer pipe between a house and a tank, with a tree root visible in the break, shot from above at an angle in daylight
Common questions
How do I tell if the clog is in the sewer line or the tank?
Check the tank level. If it is full, the tank is the issue. If the tank is low and the house backs up, the line between them is the likely cause. A full tank can also back up into a line, so both are checked. Which fixtures back up first and how often also help narrow it down.
Can tree roots break a sewer pipe?
They usually enter at joints or small cracks and widen them. Roots can block the line and open the joints, so removal is followed by resealing. Older pipe is more prone, and a tree planted near the line, including a neighbor’s, is worth watching. Roots are a cause the camera or probe will show.
Does repair always mean digging up the yard?
Not every time. A blockage may clear without digging. A broken or sagging pipe needs access to the damaged section, which means excavation along that part of the line. Septic lines are short and shallow, so the dig is usually limited to the stretch between the house and the tank.
Can the line be fixed without digging at all?
Not on every job. Septic lines are short and shallow, so a repair normally means uncovering the damaged section. Ask what method suits your pipe, and whether a camera will be used to locate the fault first, so the hole is dug at the problem point rather than along the whole run.
Who repairs the line if I am on city sewer?
The city or utility maintains the main. The lateral from the house is typically the owner’s, though this varies by utility, so contact the utility before hiring a repair. If the home is on septic, the whole line from the house to the tank belongs to the owner, and the repair is covered here.
Do I need a permit to repair a sewer line on a septic property?
Straight line repairs may count as maintenance, but changes to the system can need a health department permit. Confirm with your local health department before work starts. A new route, a changed tank connection or a redesign is more likely to need one than replacing a cracked section in place.