Thousands of New Yorker’s experience broken sewer pipes on an annual basis. Most often a broken pipe is determined by a local plumber, drain cleaner, or the DEP issuing a Cease & Desist violation. As a homeowner, your primary concern should be how to find a sewer line underground when it’s broken quickly and accurately.
Plumber’s diagnosis
There are many tools out these days that can assist in determining the exact location of a broken sewer pipe. Many plumbers use cameras that go inside the pipe, sewer line locators that can trace the blockage from above ground and these days they make cameras with locators on them.
Camera determines a broken sewer
The problem many people face is how much time the plumber is willing to spend assisting the homeowner. Many plumbers will quickly determine “your pipe is broken” and give an idea of where they encountered a problem. This now leaves the homeowner with the knowledge that there’s an underground sewer pipe that’s broken but without any detail on what the next step is to fix it. In most cases, it is suggested not to repair the pipe but to replace the entire pipe from the house to the roadway. This voids the need to use a sewer pipe locator. The challenge most people face with replacing the entire pipe is the amount of money it costs to do so. A full replacement can run as much as double, and even triple the price than to repair the pipe.
It is important that you obtain factual information from your plumber about how to find the broken drain pipe underground and what it will take to repair the pipe.
Important questions to ask
- Where did you encounter a problem with your sewer line
- What tools did you use to locate this problem
- If I repair the location specified, will this resolve my issue
Excavating for the repair
Once you feel comfortable with the information you have received, provide as much factual information as possible to the sub surface plumber.
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Digging for repair |
Repairing the sewer line |
The contractor will obtain all required permits and begin excavating on the property, sidewalk or roadway for the sewer line repair. If you are repairing up to 15’ of pipe, the entire process should take one day. The existing pipe must be repaired with cast iron pipe and be inspected by the DEP if working on the public sidewalk or roadway.
