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Choose The Best Dallas Sewer Repair Option For You
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You just got some bad news about your main sewer line. Maybe a tree root burst through your pipe, there’s a deep clog, or your old cast iron sewer pipe collapsed. One thing’s for sure — you don’t like the quote your Dallas plumber gave you, and you want a second opinion.
We’re Mother, and we’ll do more than provide an expert second opinion for your Dallas sewer repair or replacement. We’ll help you understand the 5 most common types of sewer repair and replacement, and which is the best option for your unique project.
Whether you need a quick spot repair or complete sewer repipe, we’re here for you. Our plumbers have over a century of combined local experience fixing sewer lines in Dallas homes — call us 7 days a week if you need a fast inspection and estimate.
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Find the Best Repair Option for Your Sewer Line Issue
Don’t have time to read the full article? Use this helpful table to discover the best type(s) of sewer repair for your specific problem.
We’ve paired 8 common causes of Dallas sewer line damage with the best service options to address the issue. This table also provides context for when a sewer line solution isn’t effective for specific types of damage.
Keep reading for more context and in-depth information!
TABLE: Best Sewer Repair Options for Specific Types of Damage
*If your home has multiple issues (like 3 root intrusions), pipe replacement starts to become more cost-effective than spot repairs.
**Rerouting becomes a very appealing option if your damaged existing line causes a slab leak. It’s often cheaper to reroute the pipe than cut into your slab or flooring. Keep reading for more context.
Why Are Sewer Repairs So Expensive?
The only thing worse than the sewage backing up in your drains is the quote you got for complete sewer line replacement. The reason you’re exploring other types of repair is simple — you don’t like your plumber’s bid, and you want to know if other options exist.
The bad news: sewer replacement is inherently expensive due to increased labor and specialized equipment. The good news: you do have options. Get insight from a trustworthy plumber, and you’ll discover a lasting solution at a price point you can swallow.
Here are the 5 types of sewer line repair and replacement that occur in most projects:
- Spot repairs
- Partial replacement or repipe
- Complete replacement or repipe
- Pipe rerouting
- Pipe lining
Read a plumbing quote like a Master Plumber
Sewer repair is a complex job that requires years of training, local experience and advanced plumbing equipment. But it’s not rocket science, and your plumber should be able to explain it in plain english.
Here’s the cliff notes (do people still use cliff notes?) your plumber already knows.
Spot Repairs
Spot repair in sewer lines is like a root canal: we go in to fix the specific source of the problem without pulling the whole thing out.
Spot repairs focus on a small problem area within the pipe, rather than replacing the entire line. In most cases, plumbers cut out the small broken pipe section, connect a new piece of Schedule 40 PVC, then marry it to the existing pipe material using primer or another binding material.
This approach saves on excavation costs and labor, because we don’t have to dig up your whole yard to deal with a specific patch.
Cost drivers of sewer line spot repairs
The cost of your spot repair is directly impacted by the depth at which your sewer line is buried. The further down we dig, the more labor is needed. If your spot repair is under a driveway or foundation, that further increases the work and expense.
Best use cases for sewer line spot repairs
Spot repairs are ideal for isolated issues like a single crack, a small section damaged by a tree root intrusion, or a localized leak where the rest of your sewer line is still in good shape.
When spot repairs aren’t a good solution
Spot repairs are best for one specific problem area along your sewer line — a single root intrusion, one pinhole leak, etc.
The cost of spot repairs increases significantly when more problems are present. It means more tunneling, more affected pipe sections, and more labor and material costs.
If your pipe has multiple sections that need repairs, you may want to look at our next option:
Partial Sewer Line Replacement
Partial sewer line replacement involves digging up and replacing only the compromised segment of your existing sewer pipe, rather than the entire line. It's a precise excavation and installation method to fix a longer section of damage that's too extensive for a simple patch.
Cost drivers of partial sewer line replacement
Just like with spot repairs, the deeper your sewer line is for a partial replacement, the more expensive the project will be. This is due to the increased labor, equipment, and safety measures needed for deeper excavation.
If the affected pipe section is under a hardscape like concrete or a driveway, the cost escalates further because of the extra work to break through and restore those surfaces.
Best use cases for partial sewer line replacement
Partial sewer line replacement is best suited for longer sections of pipe with significant structural damage. Examples include multiple cracks, extensive tree root invasion over several feet, or a bellied section.
When partial replacement isn’t enough
Large compromised sections of sewer pipe are simply too big for partial replacement to be cost-effective.
Example: a belly in the sewer line is a good candidate for partial pipe replacement, but a complete sewer line collapse is not.
If your entire sewer pipe is compromised or collapsed, consider our next solution.
Complete Sewer Line Replacement
Complete sewer line replacement means we're replacing the entire length of your sewer pipe, from under your home's foundation all the way to the municipal connection or your septic tank.
This is typically done when the entire line is extensively damaged or has reached the end of its lifespan.
Cost drivers of complete sewer line replacement
The primary cost factors for a complete sewer line replacement boil down to the length and depth of the pipe, and the expense of restoring your property's landscaping or hardscaping after the work is done. It also depends greatly on your home’s existing foundation type.
Depth and length of affected sewer pipe
Deeper lines require substantial excavation, often involving heavy machinery. If the entire pipe run is under features like a driveway, mature trees, or landscaping, costs rise due to extensive disruption and restoration work.
The relationship between sewer replacement and your foundation
Your sewer line passes under or very near your home’s foundation to reach your wastewater producing fixtures (like toilets and tubs). The type of foundation you have directly relates to the cost of your pipe replacement.
Sewer line repairs near your concrete slab are more expensive to repair than repairs near pier-and-beam foundations. Pier-and-beam foundations offer crawlspace and basement areas that allow greater access for leak repairs. Homes on slabs don’t have these features.
Since virtually every home in the Dallas-Fort Worth sits on a concrete slab, complete sewer line replacement is more expensive in our region than other parts of the country.
Aging pipe materials
Complete sewer line replacement is necessary for widespread issues like sewer line deterioration, repeated collapses, or when an aging pipe material like Orangeburg completely fails and cannot be effectively repaired in sections.
A note about cast iron pipe replacement
Cast iron pipes are prevalent in Dallas residential sewer systems — and they’re all at the end of their lifespans.
Cast iron sewer pipes stopped being installed in the 1970s. Consider their average lifespan of 50-75 years, plus the added stress of local clay soil expansion and hard mineral scaling.
We reviewed our last 3 years of plumbing service data in Dallas-Fort Worth area homes. 100% of the cast iron sewer pipes we’ve encountered in that time needed to be replaced.
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Pipe Rerouting
Sewer pipe rerouting involves installing a new sewer line along a completely different path from the original, typically to avoid significant obstructions or recurring problems in the existing line's location.
Instead of fixing the old pipe, we design and dig a new, more efficient, and trouble-free route for your wastewater.
Cost drivers of pipe rerouting
Rerouting saves money when affected drains are located along outside walls, because it saves the expense of tunneling deep underneath the home in order to fix the pipes. Instead, we simply trench on the exterior which is much less expensive.
The cost of rerouting sewer pipes is heavily influenced by the new path's length, the depth required for the new line, and the type of terrain or obstacles it must navigate.
Trees and hardscaping make rerouting too expensive
If the damaged pipe section passes through landscaping or hardscaped areas, rerouting becomes a less appealing option. Extensive digging through trees, driveways, gardens, patios and pool decks significantly contributes to the overall expense.
Pipe rerouting is best suited for situations where the existing sewer line's path is problematic due to inaccessible areas, unresolvable obstructions (like massive tree roots you can't remove), or when a planned construction project makes the current route unfeasible.
Pipe Lining
Cured in place pipe lining (CIPP) involves creating a new, seamless pipe inside your existing damaged sewer line by inserting a flexible, resin-soaked tube and curing it in place. It's like giving your old pipe a durable, leak-proof sleeve without the need for extensive digging.
Cost drivers of pipe lining
The primary cost factors for pipe lining depend mainly on the length and diameter of the pipe being lined, as well as the specific type of resin and curing method used.
Penetrations (digging) also add to the cost — every time two pipes meet along your sewer line, you need to bore a hole in the liner. More penetrations = higher cost.
While pipe lining avoids major excavation costs, project prep (thorough cleaning and creating an access point) contributes to the overall price. The condition of the existing pipe also plays a role, as severely collapsed sections might not be suitable for lining.
Best use cases for pipe lining
Pipe lining is excellent for repairing cracked pipes, pipes with minor offsets, sections with root intrusion after cleaning, and for preventing future leaks or root growth without major disruption to your property.
The benefits of cured in place pipe lining (CIPP)
Cured-in-Place Piping (CIPP) lining is a trenchless sewer repair method where we insert a flexible tube, saturated with a special resin, into your existing damaged pipe.
This tube is then inflated and cured (hardened) with heat or UV light, creating a durable, seamless new pipe right inside the old one.
CIPP lining offers minimal disruption to your property, faster repair times compared to traditional methods, and a cost-effective extension of most sewer line lifespans by 10+ years.
When CIPP lining isn’t a good idea
Extremely damaged pipes, especially ones that are incredibly old, aren’t good candidates for pipe lining. The existing materials simply have too many structural issues — even with the new lining, they’re prone to deterioration and collapse.
Keep in mind that CIPP lining isn’t designed to last as long as a net new Schedule 40 PVC sewer pipe. You’ll get 5-10 more years out of your existing pipe before replacement is needed.
A Special Note About Yard Line Replacement
We’ve visited dozens of Dallas homes where the main sewer line in their yard had a leak, belly or collapse. Most of these problems required extensive yard line replacement — where most or all of the sewer main needed to be updated.
These repairs are among the most expensive sewer line projects in Dallas. The average complete yard line replacement here can cost $10,000 or more.
We wish homeowners knew the truth: most of these replacements are avoidable if smaller repairs happen when the first warning sign appears.
Resist the urge to skip small underground pipe repairs
Last year, a Dallas homeowner called Mother when sewage began puddling in his backyard. We discovered extensive damage from a collapsed cast iron sewer line that was long past its lifespan.
Several years earlier, he called another plumber about backups in his shower drain. He was presented 2 service options — a lower quote to snake his pipes, and a higher quote to replace 10 feet of his sewer main due to initial signs of damage.
He chose the cheaper option, and it came back to bite him. Our plumbing experts determined a partial sewer line replacement at that time would have saved him over $5,000.
It’s hard to resist taking the less expensive bid, especially for an underground pipe you can’t even see. But handling sewer main repairs in your yard ASAP is the best option — and it presents you with more service options.
Upfront yard line repairs offer more service options
Fix your sewer main issue as soon as symptoms arise, and you’ll benefit from a wider range of repair options.
Partial sewer line replacement allows the affected pipe section to be replaced before damage extends throughout the sewer main. Bite the bullet upfront, and save thousands over a future complete yard line replacement.
Pipe lining is a potential solution depending on the diameter of your affected pipe section. You’ll likely save even more money if CIPP lining is an option — no messy excavation and landscape repair is needed.
8 Most Common Causes of Dallas Sewer Repairs
From intrusive live oak roots to shifting clay soil, Dallas homeowners face significant local challenges to the stability of their sewer systems.
Our research team reviewed the last 3 years of Mother sewer line repair calls to discover the most common causes of sewer line damage on Dallas properties. Learn more about what’s affecting your pipes, and the best solutions for each problem.
Underground pipe leak
An underground pipe leak refers to any breach or opening in your buried sewer line that allows wastewater to escape into the surrounding soil.
Best repair option(s):
- Spot Repair: This is ideal if the leak is isolated to a small, specific area, as it provides a targeted and less intrusive fix.
- Pipe Lining: If there are multiple small leaks or the pipe shows signs of general deterioration leading to leaks over a longer section, lining seals all those points by creating a new, continuous inner pipe.
Old or broken branch line pipe
A branch line pipe carries wastewater from a fixture (like a toilet or sink) to the main sewer line. It’s typically smaller in diameter than your sewer main.
Best repair option(s):
- Spot Repair: This is suitable if the damage is confined to a very small, accessible section of the branch line, allowing for a quick, localized fix.
- Partial Sewer Line Replacement: If the branch line has a more extensive break or significant age-related deterioration over a longer segment, replacing that specific portion provides a durable solution without disrupting the entire system.
Old or broken sewer main
Your sewer main refers to the primary, largest diameter pipe that collects all wastewater from a property and directs it towards the municipal sewer system or septic tank. Older pipe materials like cast iron, clay and Orangeburg should be replaced.
Best repair option(s):
- Complete Sewer Line Replacement: A broken or old sewer main typically suffers from widespread deterioration or severe, irreparable damage along a significant length. This requires a full replacement of the main pipe for reliable long-term performance. Schedule 40 PVC is best for this project.
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Tree root intrusion
A tree root intrusion occurs when tree roots burst into and grow within your sewer pipe. This is a common issue in Dallas — our live oak and crape myrtle trees have aggressive root systems.
Best repair option(s):
- Pipe Lining: This is often the superior choice for multiple root intrusions. After clearing the roots, the new seamless liner prevents future root entry by eliminating cracks and joints where future roots can penetrate.
- Spot Repair: This is a good option for a single, isolated root intrusion point, especially if the rest of the pipe is in good condition. It provides a targeted repair without digging up the entire line.
Sewer belly
A sewer belly refers to a section of your sewer pipe that has sagged or sunk, creating a low spot where wastewater and solids can collect, leading to recurring clogs and poor drainage.
Best repair option(s):
- Partial Sewer Line Replacement: A sewer belly is a structural issue requiring the physical removal and replacement of the sagged section to restore proper slope and flow. Most sewer bellies do not require complete replacement.
Pipe separation
A pipe separation occurs when two sections of a sewer pipe disconnect from each other. This creates a gap that allows wastewater to leak out and debris to enter, often leading to blockages.
Best repair option(s):
- Partial Sewer Line Replacement: This solutions allows for less excavation and precise rejoining or replacement of the separated sections. A secure and leak-proof connection is created without full replacement.
- Pipe Rerouting: If the current path of your sewer pipe is unfeasible, rerouting is an option here. Ask your plumber: if we replace my pipe in the existing location, will separations keep happening?
Burst sewer pipe
A burst sewer pipe is a severe condition where the pipe has fractured or ruptured significantly, causing a large opening from which wastewater can escape rapidly and soil can easily enter.
Best repair option(s):
- Pipe Bursting: This is often the best solution because it's specifically designed for completely destroyed or collapsed pipes, allowing a new, stronger pipe to be pulled through the path of the old, burst one with minimal excavation.
- Complete Sewer Line Replacement: Complete replacement is necessary when trenchless methods aren’t feasible or safe. This includes a severely damaged burst pipe, outdated pipe materials like Orangeburg, or highly unstable clay soil conditions.
Sewer line collapse
A sewer line collapse is when a section of the pipe completely gives way, preventing any flow of wastewater. This indicates severe structural failure in your sewer system.
Best repair option(s):
- Partial Sewer Line Replacement: This is often the best solution if the collapse is localized to a specific segment. It allows for the excavation and replacement of only the compromised portion.
- Pipe Bursting: An excellent option if the surrounding soil conditions allow for a new pipe to be pulled through the path of the old one.
How to Get a Second Opinion on Dallas Sewer Repair Quotes
Main sewage line replacement in Dallas costs between $2,250-$10,000. That price tag indicates a real investment in your property — you deserve lasting solutions that are thoughtfully tailored to your home’s plumbing layout.
At Mother, we believe every homeowner deserves a second opinion on sewer repair bids. If you aren’t sure about your current quote, call our experts 7 days a week for a thorough review of your project.
We saved this Dallas homeowner $12,000 on sewer repair
A Dallas homeowner recently got multiple bids for sewer line replacement that was needed underneath their slab foundation,. because the lines under the house were collapsing.
Each plumbing bid their received was for full pipe replacement underneath a concrete slab, which is very expensive.
They decided to call Mother for a fifth opinion — we’re glad they did, because our Master Plumber noticed something the others didn’t.
The home’s drains were located along the outside walls of the house. As a result, we were able to do a sewer line reroute instead of fully replacing the pipe. This saved a significant amount of excavation and plumbing labor.
The result? We helped the homeowner save $12,000 on their sewer line work.
Call Mother: Take Control of Your Dallas Sewer Repair Project
Dallas sewer repair is a costly, often intrusive project that affects your quality of life. Homeowners need transparent service options from an expert plumber that offers thoughtful, customized solutions to individual sewer issues.
At Mother, we provide the best long-term solution for your home and family — even if that means we quote a lower bid than competitors. You get the plumbing solutions you need, simple explanations you can understand, from local experts you trust.
Need guidance in your sewer repair or replacement journey? Want a second opinion on a pricey quote? Call us 7 days a week — we’ll give you insight, lasting solutions, and peace of mind.
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