Sewer line repair fixes the pipe that carries wastewater from your house to the town sewer main or to your septic tank. When that pipe cracks, collapses or fills with roots, sewage backs up into the lowest drains of the house. That is an emergency, and our 24/7 line takes the call at night, on weekends and on holidays, with same-day dispatch when schedules allow.
Until we arrive, stop using water. Do not flush, run the dishwasher or start a laundry load. Keep people and pets away from any sewage on the floor, open a window if the smell is strong, and call (603) 815-9179.
We start with a camera and a diagnosis. Clearing the clog is only the first step, because a pipe that has failed will clog again until it is repaired.
Sewer backup: what to do first
A sewage backup is a health hazard as well as a flood. The first hour matters most, and the steps are simple.
- Stop adding waterEvery flush, shower and load of laundry pushes more wastewater toward the backup.
- Protect the areaMove rugs, boxes and electronics off the floor and keep children and pets out of the room.
- VentilateOpen a window or run a fan if the smell is strong, but do not use electrical equipment in standing water.
- Call and describeTell the dispatcher which drains are affected, whether sewage is rising, and whether the house is on town sewer or septic.
Do not pour chemical cleaners into a backed-up line. They rarely help a failed pipe and they endanger anyone who opens it afterward.
How we know it is the sewer line and not a clog
A kitchen sink clog affects one fixture. A sewer line failure affects the whole house, and the signs build in a pattern.
- Several drains gurgle or drain slowly together, especially the lowest ones.
- Sewer gas smell comes from a basement floor drain or a yard cleanout.
- A section of lawn over the sewer line sinks, stays soggy or grows lush and green.
- Drains clear after cabling and then slow down again within weeks.
- A camera finds roots, a belly where water pools, a cracked joint or a collapsed section.
The camera inspection shows the pipe from the cleanout to the street or the tank. It gives us the length, the depth, the material and the exact distance to the defect, so the repair quote reflects the real pipe. Read more on our sewer inspection page.
Repair, reline or replace: the options
There are four common ways to fix a failed sewer line. The best one depends on the pipe material, the type of damage and what lies above the pipe.
| Option | How it works | Good fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | Dig to the defect and replace a short section | One cracked joint or a short offset | Needs a trench at that spot |
| Pipe lining | A resin-soaked liner is pulled in and cured inside the old pipe | Cracks and root entry in a pipe that still holds its shape | Does not fix a collapsed or badly sagging pipe |
| Pipe bursting | A new pipe is pulled through as the old pipe is broken apart | Long runs of failed pipe under landscaping or paving | Needs entry and exit pits |
| Open trench replacement | Excavate and install new pipe | Collapsed pipe or a major grade problem | Most digging and restoration |
Pipe lining is also called trenchless repair, and it often saves a driveway, a patio or a mature tree. We use it when the camera shows the pipe is round enough to line. When it is not, we say so and recommend digging.
Town sewer, septic and the line in between
Londonderry properties are served by either town sewer or a septic system. Whether your street has a municipal main is something Public Works can confirm at 603-432-1100, extension 460.
If you are on town sewer, the pipe from the house to the property line is generally the homeowner's responsibility, and the main in the street is the town's. Ask Public Works where that boundary falls for your address. Our camera shows which side a defect is on.
If you are on septic, a sewer line repair covers the house line only. Repeated backups can also come from a full tank, a blocked outlet baffle or a failing leach field, and those need a septic professional. We tell you when the pipe checks out fine.
Before a dig or a replacement begins, confirm permit needs with the Building and Zoning Enforcement office, extension 440 on the town line, 603-432-1100.
Common causes in older and newer Londonderry homes
Cast iron and clay pipe are known for scale, cracking at joints and root intrusion as they age. Plastic lines hold up well but can sag if the trench bedding settled or shift where a joint was poorly glued.
Mature trees raise the risk on any pipe with a leaking joint. Roots follow the moisture escaping from a small defect and then widen it. If the camera shows roots, a one-time cut is not a repair, because the opening is still there.
Heavy foot or vehicle loads can crush shallow pipe near a driveway. We note the depth on camera, and we point you to our sewer line cleaning page when the line is sound and only needs a cleanout.
What sewer line repair costs
Every sewer line is different, so the price is stated once the camera has shown the damage. The biggest cost factors are:
- The repair method, from a spot dig to trenchless lining or full replacement.
- The length and depth of the damaged section.
- What sits above the pipe, such as a driveway, a patio, trees or a finished floor.
- The pipe size and material.
- Permits, inspections and surface restoration.
Homeowners policies often exclude the cost of repairing a worn sewer pipe, though some offer a separate service line endorsement. Check your policy. To talk through your own line, call (603) 815-9179.
Where we repair sewer lines
We repair sewer lines throughout Londonderry and in Derry, Hudson and Manchester. Before a dig, we often recommend a hydro jetting pass to clear debris so the camera can see the whole pipe.
A replacement sewer line must meet the International Plumbing Code (IPC) for pipe material, slope and cleanouts, and the town may inspect it.
Questions we hear in Londonderry
Yes. Call (603) 815-9179 whenever the line fails. Name the drains that are affected and whether sewage is rising, and we plan the next step with you, same day when the schedule allows.
A single slow fixture is usually a local clog. When several drains gurgle together or the basement floor drain backs up, the problem is in the main line. A camera inspection confirms it.
Often yes, if the pipe is still round. Pipe lining and pipe bursting both limit digging. A collapsed or badly sagging pipe usually needs open excavation.
Generally the homeowner is responsible for the private line from the house to the property line, and the town for the main in the street. Ask Londonderry Public Works at 603-432-1100, extension 460, where the boundary sits for your address.
A cable clears the blockage without fixing the defect that caused it. Roots, a sag or a cracked joint will block the line again. A camera shows the cause.
It applies to the pipe between the house and the tank. If that pipe tests fine and backups continue, the tank or the leach field is the next place to look.