SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
Diagnosing a Blocked Drain
When to Call a Plumber
How to Locate the Main Building Drain
How to Use a Power Snake on Building Drains
How to Find Distance to Drain Blockage
Determining Need for Replacement
Replacing the Sewer Line, Step by Step
Making Other Septic Repairs
Installing the new sewer line
Bedding the sewer line in Sand
Final Backfill of the Sewer Line Trench
Documenting Buried Components
Final seeding and soil restoration
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How we Determine that the Sewer Line Needs Replacement
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This article describes we determined that a sewer pipe or "drain line" had to be replaced. The line which was replaced in this photo-illustrated case runs from the building exterior to a septic tank located downhill from the home.
We present an actual sewer line replacement case study, illustrated with photos of each step in the diagnosis and replacement of a blocked sewer line. Technical reviewers are welcome and are listed at "References." This is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems. Also see Backups and Clogged Drains diagnosing septic backups and septic system failures versus clogged drains.
Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. © Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
Guide to Determining that Sewer Line Replacement is Needed
Discovering a broken but buried drain pipe
 
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Using a wrecking bar and shovel we flipped over the section of sidewalk to expose, no surprise, a wet area below the sidewalk, showing that not only was our sewer line blocked, worse, it was broken. This was not a big surprise.
We were working on a 1920's home which still, as far as we knew, had its original clay piping between house and septic tank. The second photo is a close up showing the sewage leak where the drain line was not only blocked, but broken below the sidewalk.
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This photo shows a mud and root-clogged section of clay pipe removed later during excavation of the drain line. What caused the clay piping to break after all these years? It could have become damaged by tree roots, but we suspected and still do, that something different occurred here. The home had recently undergone an extensive renovation between tenants. The contractors had driven a heavy pickup truck into and up the rear yard in the process of removing debris. It was possible that driving over the concrete walk had pressed it down just enough to crack the clay piping. |
How much drain pipe to replace during sewer line repairs
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Here's a photo of the total distance from the house rear foundation to the septic tank (down hill to the left of the garage in the photo.) Regardless of the cause of the broken drain pipe, that section would have to be replaced. Now we had a decision: do we just dig up the broken section by hand and replace it, hoping for the best? While we might have gotten away with digging by hand to replace just the broken few feet of drain line, it was quite possible that the drain would then be discovered to be blocked again further along, by more damage in the same area or closer to the septic tank. Given the cost of bringing an excavator to the site at all, and wanting to make a complete, reliable repair rather than risk having to simply repeat the whole process all over again in another year, we decided to replace the entire line between house and septic tank. |
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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
Diagnosing a Blocked Drain
When to Call a Plumber
How to Locate the Main Building Drain
How to Use a Power Snake on Building Drains
How to Find Distance to Drain Blockage
Determining Need for Replacement
Replacing the Sewer Line, Step by Step
Making Other Septic Repairs
Installing the new sewer line
Bedding the sewer line in Sand
Final Backfill of the Sewer Line Trench
Final seeding and soil restoration
Sewer or Septic Line Installation at Steep Sites
- Thanks to Thomas Gleason, excavators, Poughkeepsie, NY 845-454-3730, for the excavating work at the project photo documented here in September 2006
- Thanks to Cleveland Plumbing, the prime plumbing contractor, Staatsburgh, NY 845-485-7700 for the plumbing work and drain clog diagnosis work documented here in September 2006
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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
- Backups and Clogged Drains diagnosing septic backups and septic system failures versus clogged drains - key step in septic repair
- HOW TO FIND A SEPTIC TANK
- DRAINFIELD LOCATION GUIDE
- SEPTIC VIDEOS assist in locating septic system or sewer line components
- The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
- Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
- The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
- Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
- Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.
- Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
- What is a Septic System An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
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