When burst sewer pipelines demand repairs, they create a few major challenges for their modern homeowners -- and frequently even for the contractors that get called in for the professional jobs.

Iron used to be the the main choice in plumbing pipelines, including the lateral line, which is the drain from your property into the sewer main. When one breaks, frequently the optimal action is to replace the existing pipe with new polyethylene pipe that will not be damaged as easily in the future.

Another contemporary sewer line replacement technique is called trenchless plumbing. This technique makes it possible to repair the sewer line without digging a trench. One kind of trenchless sewer line repair is called the "bursting method": Laborers will thread a new pipeline through the existing, cracked pipe. This further expands the existing pipeline to make way for the replacement.

A second trenchless sewer pipe repair strategy is the "lining method." Using this technique, contracters will insert a flexible tube through the old sewer line and inflate it. This lining will then cover up any leaks in the existing pipe. Additionally, the lining can easily be taken out and repaired (or replaced) as necessary.

Even with trenchless sewer line repair, it is possible for nearby roots to repeat their damage. In addition to fixing the damage in the line, plumbers may consider blocking root growth in the direction of the sewer pipeline for any nearby heavy foliage.

The price of sewer line repair substantially varies depending on the contracter doing the labor and how much labor there is to do. Some sewer pipelines run under garages, driveways, or landscaping. Especially under these circumstances, trenchless replacement can be a worthwhile alternative. When deciding on a plumbing contracter, ask for estimates from 2 or more different bidders. Ensure that all of the estimates include all of the same items. Plumbers often charge significantly different costs for the same parts. Also be sure you get in writing the agreed-upon state of your property after the work is finished. That is to say, if a contracter does have to dig a trench in your lawn or make a mess, it should be clear whose job it is -- yours or theirs -- to clean it up.

Any time you ask for an estimate for a sewer repair, have a sense of whether similar fixes will have to be made in the foreseeable future. Especially in older homes (or newer homes connecting to an older sewer pipeline), it could be worth doing a total replacement project instead of little fixes, so that you won't have to stomach a similar crisis a few years down the road. A lot of plumbing businesses such as sewer line repair bellevue wa offer a warranty on sewer line replacement, some of them for as long as you own the property.