When broken sewer pipes need repairs, they create some distinct challenges for their modern homeowners -- and occasionally even for the plumbing contractors that get called in for the professional jobs.

Iron used to be the the first choice in plumbing pipes, including the lateral line, which is the drain from your home into the sewer main. When one breaks, often the wisest choice is to replace the iron with new polyethylene pipe that will not face the same dangers in the future.

Another contemporary sewer pipe replacement approach is known as trenchless plumbing. This approach enables a contracter to repair the sewer pipe without digging a trench. One variety of trenchless sewer pipe repair is known as the "bursting method": Contracters will pull a new line through the existing, burst pipe. This further bursts the existing line to make room for the replacement.

Another trenchless sewer pipeline repair strategy is the "lining method." Using this technique, plumbers will insert a resin-coated tube through the broken sewer pipe and inflate it. This lining will then cover up any leaks in the existing pipe. Better yet, the lining can easily be removed and fixed (or switched out) if future problems arise.

Even with trenchless sewer pipe repair, it is possible for nearby roots to repeat their damage. In addition to fixing the desctruction in the pipe, property owners may consider impeding root growth toward the pipe for any nearby heavy foliage.

The price of sewer pipe repair substantially varies depending on the company doing the work and how much work there is to do. Some sewer pipes run underneath garages, driveways, or landscaping. Especially under these circumstances, trenchless replacement can be a worthwhile option. When choosing a plumbing company, request quotes from two or more different contracters. Ensure that all of the quotes include exactly the same items. Contractors often charge significantly different rates for similar parts. Also make sure you get in writing the agreed-upon condition of your property after the work is all done. Put another way, if a contracter does have to dig a trench in your yard or necessitate other cleanup work, it should be understood whose duty it is -- yours or theirs -- to get everything looking good again.

Any time you request a price quote for a sewer repair, have a sense of whether it's likely more fixes will have to be have to be performed in the foreseeable future. Especially under older houses (or newer houses connecting to an older sewer line), it may be worth funding an entire replacement project instead of minor fixes, so that you won't have to put up with this same dilemma three years down the road. Many plumbing businesses such as sewer repair near bellevue wa provide a warranty on sewer pipe replacement, some of them for as long as you own the home.