When a sewer problem is an emergency
A slow drain can wait for a day. A sewer line that has failed behaves differently and gets worse with each use of water.
Call right away if you see any of these:
- Sewage or dirty water coming up in a tub, shower or floor drain
- Several fixtures backing up at once, or a toilet gurgling when the washer drains
- A foul smell in the yard or basement with a wet or sunken patch of lawn
- A cleanout cap with water standing at or above it
- Raw sewage inside the house, which carries bacteria and calls for protective cleanup
Backup, break or blockage: how we tell them apart
A cable can fix a blockage. It cannot fix a break. The symptoms help sort out which one you have.
| What happens | Points to | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| One drain backs up | Clog in that branch | Cable or snake that line |
| Lowest drains back up when upstairs fixtures run | Blockage in the main line | Clear the main, then camera it |
| Clogs return within weeks | Roots, belly or broken joint | Camera inspection |
| Soggy patch in the yard | Leak or break in the lateral | Camera and locate, then repair |
| Gurgling and sewer smell | Partial blockage or vent issue | Camera and venting check |
Sewage in the basement at midnight?
Call the 24/7 line. We will walk you through what to turn off and set up a same-day visit.
How a sewer line repair job runs
We diagnose before we dig, because the pipe decides the repair.
- 1
Clear the line if needed
A backed-up line often has to be opened with a cable or jetter before the camera can pass.
- 2
Camera inspection
A camera on a flexible rod travels through the line and shows cracks, roots, offsets and low sections.
- 3
Locate the damage
We mark the depth and position of the defect so any digging is limited.
- 4
Explain the options
You hear the lining option and the dig option, with a clear price before work starts.
- 5
Repair and retest
We make the repair, then run water and recheck the line with the camera.
Trenchless pipe lining or digging it up
Many homeowners ask about trenchless lining, the method where a resin-soaked liner is inflated inside the old pipe and cured in place. It is a real option and it is not always the right one.
Pipe lining (trenchless)
- Needs little or no digging, so the lawn and driveway stay
- Works in pipe that is cracked, root-invaded or has leaking joints
- Needs a line that is still roughly round and open
- Does not fix a collapsed section or a major low spot
Open-trench replacement
- Replaces the failed pipe with new material
- Fixes collapsed pipe and belly sections
- Can correct the slope
- Means more digging, surface repair and time
A camera inspection decides which one fits. We will tell you plainly if lining will not hold, rather than lining a pipe that needs replacing.
Cast iron, clay and other sewer pipe
The age of the house often tells us the pipe material, and the material tells us the likely failure.
Cast iron
Common in older drain lines. It rusts from the inside out, scales, and eventually thins until it cracks or sags. A cast iron section that is flaking can be lined or replaced, depending on the camera.
Clay tile
Older laterals often use short clay sections with many joints. Roots find the joints, and ground movement can offset them.
Orangeburg
A tar-and-fiber pipe used in some mid-century homes. It softens, deforms and collapses, so lining rarely works and replacement is typical.
PVC and ABS
Plastic pipe from later decades. It resists roots and corrosion but can crack from impact or settle at poorly compacted trenches.
Who owns the sewer line, and which district serves you
Midvale says maintenance and ownership of the sewer lateral typically falls to the property owner. That is the pipe between your house and the main, so a break there is yours to fix.
The main in the street belongs to whichever of four sewer districts serves your block: Midvale City Public Works, Cottonwood Improvement District, Midvalley Improvement District or Sandy Suburban Improvement District. Midvale City collects wastewater for only about one-third of the city, so do not assume the city is the one to call. Tell us your address and we will help sort out where your lateral meets the main.
Sewer or septic, and what we do not do
Most Midvale addresses are on a sewer, but if your property has a septic tank, tell us when you call. Septic pumping and drain field work are a different trade, and we will say plainly whether the problem is in our scope.
We do not fix the street main. If the camera shows the blockage or break is past the property line, we document it and point you to the district that serves your street. A clog in the main in the road can look exactly like a clog in your line, so this step saves a repair bill you did not need.
What affects the cost of sewer line repair
A fixed number without seeing the pipe would be a guess. These are the variables.
Standard homeowner's insurance often excludes sewer line repair and root damage, though sudden backup coverage is a common add-on. Check your policy for a water backup endorsement before work starts.
Related drain and sewer work
If the camera shows roots or grease and the pipe is otherwise sound, hydro jetting may clear it without any digging. For a line that keeps backing up, sewer line cleaning on a schedule can help, and a sewer inspection is worth doing before buying a home. We also cover neighbors to the south, as shown on the Sandy plumbing page.
Sewer line repair questions from Midvale homeowners
Yes. The line is answered 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. We book same-day appointments when available and give you a clear price before work starts.
A clog usually clears with a cable and stays clear. If the backup returns within weeks, or you see a sunken or wet patch in the yard, the line may be cracked, rooted or collapsed. A camera shows which.
Sometimes. Lining depends on the pipe being intact enough to take a liner, and on access from a cleanout. The camera tells us whether it is possible.
Cast iron can often be lined if the walls are still sound, or replaced in sections. We choose based on what the camera shows.
The city says the lateral generally belongs to the property owner. The main in the street belongs to the district that serves it, and Midvale has four of them.
Lining often needs only a small access pit. Open-trench replacement digs along the pipe. We explain which applies before work starts.
Often not by default, though some policies add water backup coverage. Check with your agent before work begins.