Sewer lines
Sewer Line Repair
in Little Rock
Slow drains all through the house, gurgling, or a sewer smell? We repair and replace sewer lines, and we find the cause before recommending the fix, using a camera when the line needs one.
- Master Plumber MP #6781
- Licensed & insured
- 20+ years in the trade
Warning signs you need sewer line repair
When several drains slow down or back up at once, the problem is usually the main sewer line, not one drain. We find out where and why before anyone talks about digging.
- Several drains slow or backing up at once.
- Gurgling from the toilet when a sink or shower runs.
- A sewer smell in the house or the yard.
How we find the cause
Repair or replace? How a sewer camera inspection helps us decide.
It comes down to what's wrong with the line, where, how much of it, and the line's age and material. When the line needs it, we look with a camera, then tell you which way to go and why.
The finding: roots in one joint of a line that's otherwise sound.
Repair that section.
Pipe that's cracked, sagging, or failing along its length usually means a new line.
What a camera inspection shows us
Slow drains are a symptom, not a diagnosis. When we run a camera, it shows what is actually in the line.
The cleanout. A capped pipe that opens into the sewer line, usually near the house. That's where a camera goes in. A line without one is harder to reach, so we can add one.
What's blocking it. Roots, grease, or something that was flushed.
Where the pipe failed. Cracks, breaks, and joints that have pulled apart.
Bellies. Low spots where the line has sagged and waste settles.
The pipe itself. Clay, cast iron, or PVC, and how deep it runs. After a camera inspection, we can mark the spot from above, so any digging starts in the right place.
On one job, another company had quoted a whole new line. The camera found pea gravel getting into the pipe at one spot. Clearing it and covering the entry point fixed it.
We tell you what we found, and what it will take, before any work starts.
Word gets around
Finding the real problem, in customers' words
4.9★ on Google · 20+ years in the trade behind the work
What sewer line repair or replacement includes
- 01
Call and get on the schedule.
- 02
A licensed tech finds the cause.
- 03
You get the real number before the work starts.
What's included
- A camera inspection when the line needs one, to find the cause and the spot. It's charged separately and credited toward the repair if you go ahead.
- Clearing roots and buildup when that's all the line needs
- Sectional repair when only part of the line is damaged
- Full sewer line replacement when the pipe is failing along its length, with a 5-year warranty on all labor and material
- A cleanout where the line needs one, for easier access later
- The permit, pulled by us, and haul-away
We make the problem the problem, not the price.
How we price
What does sewer line repair cost?
It depends on what we find. A price over the phone is a ballpark.
The number turns on repair or full replacement, the line's length and depth, what sits on top of it, and any permit and inspection.
Simple service is billed by the hour. Big jobs are priced per job, with a free estimate.
What causes sewer line problems?
Most come down to tree roots, aging clay or cast iron pipe, shifting soil, grease, or things that shouldn't be flushed.
The common causes, and the signs in the yard
Your sewer line, also called the lateral, carries everything from your sinks, tubs, toilets, and appliances out to the city sewer or a septic tank. You rarely think about it until it fails.
- Tree root intrusion. Roots go looking for water, work into small cracks and joints, then grow until they block or break the pipe.
- Aging pipe. Older homes often have clay or cast iron sewer pipe that cracks or corrodes over time.
- Shifting soil. Central Arkansas's clay-rich soil swells when it's wet and shrinks when it's dry. That movement stresses pipe and can leave a belly.
- Grease buildup. Grease and cooking oil harden in the line.
- Things that shouldn't be flushed. Wipes, hygiene products, and the occasional toy.
Other signs worth a call: water pooling in the yard with no clear cause, a patch of grass greener than the rest, or clogs that keep coming back. If sewage backs up into a tub, shower, or floor drain, stop running water and call.
Trenchless vs traditional sewer line repair: which do we do?
We do traditional sewer repair: we dig down to the line, repair or replace the pipe, and put the yard back as best we can. We don't do trenchless repair, pipe relining, or pipe bursting.
How we fix a sewer line, from clearing to full replacement
How a sewer line gets fixed depends on what we find in it.
- Clearing. When roots or buildup are the whole problem, hydro jetting opens the line, and that includes old clay and cast iron pipe; mechanical rodding is our other tool. For a clogged drain or sewer line cleaning, see drain cleaning.
- Sectional repair. When one section is damaged, we replace just that section.
- Full replacement. When the pipe is failing along its length, a new line is the long-term fix.
Which way a line goes also comes down to its age and what it's made of: clay, cast iron, or PVC. Either way, we dig, then put the yard back as best we can. We don't seed or sod.
How do I prevent sewer line problems?
Flush only toilet paper, keep grease out of the drain, and get the line looked at when trouble starts.
Five habits, and three myths
- Flush only toilet paper. No wipes, tissues, or hygiene products.
- Keep grease out of the drain. Let it cool, then throw it in the trash.
- Mind the trees. Root barriers help where big trees grow near the line.
- Get older lines checked. A camera inspection catches roots and bellies before they turn into a backup.
- Act at the first sign. Early fixes cost less.
Three sewer service myths:
- "If my drains work most of the time, the line is fine." A partial blockage can clear for a while, then come back worse.
- "Only old homes have sewer problems." Newer homes get them too, from shifting soil, a poor install, or roots.
- "Store-bought drain cleaners are safe for pipes." Many use harsh chemicals that eat at pipes over time.
Sewer line repair questions
How do I know if my sewer line needs repair or replacement?
The usual signs are slow drains all through the house, sewer odors, gurgling toilets, or wet spots in the yard. When the signs point to the line itself, a camera inspection shows whether a repair will hold or the line needs replacing.
Who fixes the sewer line, the homeowner or the city?
Usually the line on your property is yours, and the sewer main under the street is the city's. Where one ends and the other begins depends on your city. We tell you which side the problem is on before any work starts. If it's on the city's side, we contact the city for you and go to bat for you.
What causes most sewer line problems in Central Arkansas?
Tree roots, aging pipe, shifting soil, grease, and things that shouldn't be flushed. Our clay-rich soil also swells and shrinks with the weather, which stresses buried pipe.
How long does sewer line repair or replacement take?
A minor repair is often done in a day. A full replacement usually takes 1 to 3 days, depending on how easy the line is to reach.
Will repairing my sewer line damage my yard?
We dig to reach the line, so the yard gets disturbed. When the work is done, we put the yard back as best we can. We don't seed or sod.
Do you do trenchless sewer repair?
No. We don't do trenchless repair, pipe relining, or pipe bursting. We repair and replace sewer lines the traditional way: we dig, fix the pipe, and put the yard back as best we can.
How can I prevent future sewer problems?
Flush only toilet paper, never pour grease or oil down the drain, and think about root barriers near big trees. In an older home, a periodic camera inspection catches problems early.
Sewer line services across Central Arkansas
We work out of North Little Rock and handle residential sewer line repair and replacement in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle, Sherwood, Bryant, and across Central Arkansas. Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Get the right answer
Small things turn into bigger problems.
A slow drain that keeps coming back is easier to deal with now than after a sewer backup in the house. Call, and we'll find the cause first.