About Our Services

A Sewer Lateral is the section of underground sewer pipe extending from your foundation wall (technically 3–5 feet outside it) to where the house's sewer connects to the public sewer main (typically underneath the street). This is the pipe that carries all sewage from your toilets, sinks, showers, and laundry away from your house to the public sewer main. Homeowners are almost always responsible for maintaining, repairing, and replacing damaged or failing sewer laterals, but many counties and municipalities have developed Sewer Lateral Repair Programs to assist with the project and/or expense. 

In most of the communities we serve, the sewer pipe exiting the home is 4" in diameter and increases to 6" in diameter at the start of the sewer lateral, 3' to 5' outside the foundation wall. Older homes typically have sewer laterals made of clay pipe with mortared joints, while newer homes have sewer laterals constructed of PVC pipe with joints sealed with glue or rubber gaskets. In Missouri, the minimum required depth for a sewer lateral is 30" below ground, but such a shallow lateral is uncommon. Because most of our communities have basements and the sewers typically exit the home under the basement floor, the average depth of a sewer lateral in our area ranges from 8 to over 12 feet below ground. 

There are three most common factors that cause sewer lateral failures in our region: 

1. Root Intrusion: As tree roots grow, they constantly seek water sources. If the joints in a sewer lateral are not properly sealed due to age and deterioration or improper installation, tree roots can enter the lateral. Once they enter the sewer lateral and have a water source, those roots will continue to grow quickly. As the roots grow, they can either expand, causing more significant breaks in the piping, or fill the pipe, causing blockages. 

2. Water Infiltration and Settling: If the joints in a sewer lateral are not properly sealed due to age, deterioration, or improper installation, the water in the sewer can begin to escape the sewer pipe and enter the soil around the pipe. This water escaping can erode the soil around the pipe, creating voids that allow the pipe to shift or settle. Alternatively, groundwater can enter the sewer pipe, carrying soil from around it into the pipe. This causes the same erosion effect and creates voids around the pipe. Once these voids are created, the piping can shift and move underground, causing breaks in the sewer, pipe collapses, or offsets that prevent sewage from flowing through the pipe. A common sign of this can be small sinkholes developing in the yard. 

3. Ground Shifting or Inadequate Pipe Support: Over time, the ground can shift, move, and settle. Especially in areas where fill dirt was brought in during construction to raise or level an area. This fill dirt is very challenging to compact to the same levels as the original soil, increasing the risk of shifting, settling, and erosion. Once shifting or settling occurs, it creates similar voids and pipe damage, just as water infiltration and erosion do. Additionally, when installing a sewer lateral, ensure it is properly supported with rock or solid soil so it cannot shift or settle later. If the pipe is not properly supported, it may settle in spots, creating bellies in the line. These bellies hold water and prevent the sewer laterals from draining properly by gravity. 

The most obvious sign of sewer lateral damage or failure is a sewer backup in your home. Other signs include sinkholes and wet spots in your yard, gurgling plumbing fixtures in your home, and sewer odors. Some of these symptoms can also result from clogs caused by items that have entered the sewer system and cannot flow through it. As a precaution, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to have your sewer inspected by a licensed professional. 

The scope of work for a sewer lateral spot repair or full replacement is typically very similar and involves the same steps. The primary difference is the length of the pipe being replaced. A spot repair is only the replacement of a short section of pipe, typically 10' long, and a full replacement is typically the replacement of all the pipe from the foundation wall to the property line or the connection to the public sewer main. 

Both spot repairs and full replacements require proper inspection and locating the sewer. Once the location of the existing pipe is determined and marked, and all required permits are pulled, the trench is excavated using an excavator, typically 2' wide and to the depth of the existing sewer (8' to over 12' deep) for the entire length of the sewer being replaced. Trench safety shoring is then installed along the trench walls so a plumbing professional can safely enter the excavation without risk of a trench collapse. The existing sewer lateral pipe is removed throughout the excavated area and hauled away for proper disposal. A bed of crushed limestone is then laid and compacted along the bottom of the trench to properly support the new sewer lateral and prevent future settling. The new sewer lateral pipe is then installed in the trench, ensuring proper slope, and connected to the existing lateral at both ends of the excavation. After the necessary inspections by the authority having jurisdiction are completed, the trench is backfilled with the removed soil, leaving a small mound over the excavated area for future settlement. The disturbed area is then cleaned, and seed and straw are laid over the excavated area. 

A professional crew can complete a typical spot repair in one day. A full replacement depends on the system's depth and length, but on average, it can be completed in 1-3 days. Regardless of the project's length, we always plan to restore the homeowner's sewer at the end of each day so that they can use their plumbing overnight. This sometimes slows the project because we replace the sewer in sections, aiming to get it flowing at the end of each day. 

A sewer lateral inspection is typically performed with a specialized camera system that is run through the piping from one end to the other. This camera system displays images of the inside of the pipe on a monitor, allowing a trained professional to identify cracks, settling, offsets, root intrusion, water infiltration, pipe deterioration, bellies, and pipe collapses. A video of the inspection with narration can also be recorded and provided to the homeowner. The camera system can also send a signal from inside the pipe to an above-ground locating device to determine the sewer's depth and location at any given point. 

This estimate process is free of charge. 

We believe it is our job to educate our customers on their unique circumstances and provide all their options so they can make the best decision for themselves and their families. When we arrive to provide an estimate, we typically use specialized camera equipment to inspect the sewer line, determine its location, and identify any issues with the existing sewer lateral. We will always invite the customer to join us through this process, so they see exactly what we see, and have the opportunity to ask questions about their sewer system. Following the camera inspection, we will provide the customer with written options, from a small spot repair to a full replacement, so they have full transparency into the potential solutions and the associated investments. This estimate process is free of charge. 

If the customer requests a video of the inspection, spray paint and/or marking flags to mark the sewer lateral location, a map/drawing of the system, or a written inspection report for use in real estate transactions, sewer lateral repair programs, or to obtain additional estimates, there are additional charges for these services, and they are not free.

If the sewer is clogged or backed up during the inspection and requires cleaning and/or cabling before the camera can be inserted into the line, those drain-cleaning services incur additional charges and are not included in the free estimate. 

The timing of an estimate or inspection can vary based on the system's length, accessibility, and condition. On average, the entire process takes between 1 and 2 hours. We request that the homeowner(s) and/or decision maker(s) be present during this process so we can ask them any questions about their home or issues to better understand the circumstances, and they can ask us any questions they have about their system. We always invite them to join us during the inspection so they can see exactly what is happening in the plumbing system. We then review our findings and options together so the customer has all the information to make the decision that is best for them and their family. 

A water service is the water supply pipe that runs underground from the public water main (typically located under the street) to inside your foundation wall. The water service is the pipe that supplies all the water to your home, eventually reaching your toilets, showers, sinks, laundry, and hoses. Homeowners are almost always responsible for maintaining, repairing, and replacing damaged or failing water services, but some counties and municipalities have developed Water Service Repair Programs to assist with the project and/or expense. Depending on the Water Company (who your water bill comes from), which supplies water to your home, they may take responsibility for the water service from the meter in your yard or the property line to the public water main. 

In most communities, the minimum water service diameter is 1". Depending on the number of plumbing fixtures in your home or the number of bathrooms, it may be 2" or larger. In older homes, you may find smaller diameter water services, such as 5/8" or 3/4", but these must be upgraded to at least 1" at the time of replacement. Older homes may have water services made of materials no longer allowed for installation and/or recommended, such as lead pipe or galvanized steel pipe. Most new water services use copper pipe, and some jurisdictions allow plastic pipe as well. Water Services must be installed at least 42" below ground to keep the water service below the frost line and prevent freezing in the winter. em description

There are three most common factors that cause water service failures in our region: 

1. Pipe corrosion and failure: Because most older water services use metallic pipes, they can react to the different soil types and/or the minerals in the water, causing corrosion over time. This corrosion can either cause small leaks in the water service or cause a buildup to develop inside the pipe, slowly restricting water flow. 

2. Freezing: If a water service was not installed at the proper depth, it can risk freezing in extreme winter weather. When water in the pipe freezes, it expands and can burst the pipe. 

3. Ground Shifting or Inadequate Pipe Support: Over time, the ground can shift, move, and settle. Especially in areas where fill dirt was brought in during construction to raise or level an area. This fill dirt is very challenging to compact to the same levels as the original soil, increasing the risk of shifting, settling, and erosion. Once shifting or settling occurs, the pipes can shift underground, damaging them or causing line breaks. 

The most obvious signs of water service damage or failure at your home are an extremely high water bill or significantly reduced water pressure in your home. Other signs include sinkholes, wet spots in your yard, and discolored water at your fixtures.

The scope of work for a water service spot repair or full replacement is typically very similar and involves the same steps. The primary difference is the length of the pipe being replaced. A spot repair is only the replacement of a short section of pipe, typically 10' long, and a full replacement is typically the replacement of all the pipe from the foundation wall to the property line, meter, or the connection to the public water main. 

Once all required permits are pulled, the trench is excavated using an excavator, typically 2' wide and to the depth of the existing water service or at least 42" deep for the entire length of the water service being replaced. The existing water service pipe is removed throughout the excavated area and hauled away for proper disposal. The new water service pipe is then installed in the trench, properly supported, and connected to the existing water service at both ends of the excavation. If the water service is being replaced all the way to the home, a new hole is drilled through the foundation wall, and the new shut-off valve is installed. If the water service is installed all the way to the public water main, a new tap is installed on the main, and a new meter pit is installed in the yard.

After the necessary inspections by the authority having jurisdiction are completed, the trench is backfilled with the removed soil, leaving a small mound over the excavated area for future settlement. The disturbed area is then cleaned, and seed and straw are laid over the excavated area. 

A professional crew can complete a typical spot repair in one day. A full replacement depends on the system's depth and length, but on average, it takes 1-2 days to complete. Regardless of the project's length, we always plan to restore the homeowner's water at the end of each day so that they can use their plumbing overnight. This sometimes slows the project because we plan it in phases to turn the water on to the home at the end of each day. 

This estimate process is free of charge. 

We believe it is our job to educate our customers on their unique circumstances and provide all their options so they can make the best decision for themselves and their families. When we arrive to provide an estimate, we typically locate the water service and identify any issues. We will always invite the customer to join us through this process, so they see exactly what we see, and have the opportunity to ask questions about their water system. We will provide the customer with written options, ranging from a small spot repair to a full replacement, ensuring they have full transparency into the potential solutions and the associated investments. This estimate process is free of charge. 

Additional charges apply for customer requests such as spray paint and/or marking flags to mark the water service location, a map/drawing of the system, or a written inspection report for use in real estate transactions, water service repair programs, or to obtain additional estimates. These services are not free.

We do not perform leak detection to identify the exact location of the leak.