Sewer Line?

[bowhunternw]

Has anyone had any repairs done on the sewer line from the house to the street? About once a year I have to get the thing cleaned, about 20' from the house there seems to be a block that I can't get the snake through. Just looking for some feedback if anyone had dealt with a similar issue.

Don't really want to dig up the yard to fix, imagine that could get spendy.

[Walleyehooker]

Got any trees over your line? Might have a root growing into it. I saw a deal where they run a liner threw the pipe but that probably isnt cheap either. First you will need to figure out the problem by running a camera threw it. If it is a root problem usually they show up on the cleaning tool. Might be cheaper to be on a service plan like minnegasco etc. if it happens every year.

[WallEYES]

FROM THE r.o.w. (Right of way) to the sanitary Y connection at the main, usually 25 feet in length, I would have this area lined with a C.I.P.P. (cure in place pipe) You most likely have 6 inch clay tile from the curb area to the main....there are many different C.I.P.P. systems. My first choice would be permaliner....google permaliner and see their system. I deal with inspecting some of these lining systems every day. Plan on any where from $75-100 a foot

[Archerysniper]

+1^^^^^^ I don't know the area you live in but Genes water and sewer in MPLS do a great job.

[bowhunternw]

Thanks for the feedback, I will have to look and see if I can find a place that rents a camera, first. This cast in place pipe, can they just repair bad sections or do they have line the whole thing? I am just thinking 20-30' would be 2000-3000 with the prices estimated.

[delcecchi]

If you are in St Paul be very very careful. Back in the day, they ran natural gas lines without digging trenches and some went right through the sewer lines.

Power auger too aggressively.... BOOM

[Archerysniper]

They line the whole thing from the foundation to the city sewer it's really the only way they can do it.

[Powerstroke]

There are two ways to know whats going on in there. Either you dig a hole or you have someone run a camera in there. Even with a camera inspection, some people interpret what they see differently.

I work for a city sewer dept. in the metro and one thing I'm caught up on is the details of your statement. You say you have to get your line cleaned once a year. Do you pay to have this done? Do they continue to do this service and not complete the job because of this blockage at 20'? I have an issue with this since this seems like an incomplete job. Either they cleaned the line or they didn't. By stopping at 20' from the house they are not cleaning more than half the line and they are likely dropping any cleanings like roots or solids right at the large blockage. This could be cause by many things such as tree roots, but it could also be a bad joint or partially collapsed line. It MUST be inspected. Even if they dig up the 20' spot, there could be more problems downline.

I know money can be an issue. Most companies can do partial installations of CIPP. It is best to do the entire line, but if it gets inspected and you only need a spot repair, it can be done at a considerable savings. Another great contractor that we use a ton is Highview plumbing. They are a CIPP installer as well as "dig a hole" plumber.

[WallEYES]

Plus 1 with Dan with Highview plumbing...known him for years

[WallEYES]

They line the whole thing from the foundation to the city sewer it's really the only way they can do it.

Not true they can dig one hole and line from the right of way to the main and also if you choose do so you can go the other way to the house

[bowhunternw]

There are two ways to know whats going on in there. Either you dig a hole or you have someone run a camera in there. Even with a camera inspection, some people interpret what they see differently.

I work for a city sewer dept. in the metro and one thing I'm caught up on is the details of your statement. You say you have to get your line cleaned once a year. Do you pay to have this done? Do they continue to do this service and not complete the job because of this blockage at 20'? I have an issue with this since this seems like an incomplete job. Either they cleaned the line or they didn't. By stopping at 20' from the house they are not cleaning more than half the line and they are likely dropping any cleanings like roots or solids right at the large blockage. This could be cause by many things such as tree roots, but it could also be a bad joint or partially collapsed line. It MUST be inspected. Even if they dig up the 20' spot, there could be more problems downline.

I know money can be an issue. Most companies can do partial installations of CIPP. It is best to do the entire line, but if it gets inspected and you only need a spot repair, it can be done at a considerable savings. Another great contractor that we use a ton is Highview plumbing. They are a CIPP installer as well as "dig a hole" plumber.

We have owned the home for 3 years, the first time it happened I rented the machine myself and got to a point were it would not go any further. However when I reached that point the clog was relieved. The next year it happened again so I hired someone to do it, he informed me that he was there the fall before we bought it. He also informed me that he hit something about 20' out. But I think that he said he got through it. Well now it seems to be acting up again, and have to get to the bottom of it. Been calling around and no one around here rents a camera. Guess I will just have to call some plumbers and see what they can do. Thanks for the input.

[delcecchi]

Do you live in St Paul? That sounds so much like the gas line through the sewer thing that they have had there.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=854909

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/02/08/xcel-inspections/

http://finance-commerce.com/2010/12/xcel-uncovers-gas-line-hazards/

general idea.

One symptom was clogs that kept coming back.

[CAMAN]

Clogs that keep coming back is also a symptom of roots and caved in pipes. Don't scare the guy, but he does need to get the line inspected to be able to diagnose the problem and fix it properly.

[Archerysniper]

Sounds like tree roots. Look for a total tool in your area the rent cameras

[PurpleFloyd]

Clogs that keep coming back is also a symptom of roots and caved in pipes. Don't scare the guy, but he does need to get the line inspected to be able to diagnose the problem and fix it properly.

+1.

I would pin it to one of those 2 myself. First I would find out how old the pipes are and what they are made of. If they are clay or orangeburg then tree roots could be the problem as well as just age or settling getting to them.

If the sewer system has been upgraded from septic in the not too distant past you may also have settling from where the tank was or from improper grading or compaction. We had several homes in our town have this problem.

other problems could be caused by previous tenants flushing large objects, grease or other things down the drain that settle in a low spot and cause an obstruction.

I would hire a company to come in and video the line to see what the problem is and if it is a blockage, have them hydro clean it all the way to the alley. If there is a break they should be able to send a wire down to the spot and locate it from above so they have to disrupt as little as possible to do the repair. Good luck.

[delcecchi]

He only needs to be concerned if he is in the metro, probably only in St Paul, in an older neighborhood.