Sewer Line Inspection, Repair & Replacement Services in Lombard, IL
Your main sewer line is the unsung hero of your home plumbing system — invisible until it fails. I've had countless homeowners wait too long after noticing slow drainage, only to face a serious backup and an expensive fix that could have been prevented. Thankfully, most sewer line issues give off subtle clues before they become a crisis, but many homeowners in our area aren’t familiar with those warning signs.
When you contact us at 331-225-4014, our first step is always a video camera inspection. This is non-negotiable for us because guessing about pipe conditions leads to wasted time and money. The camera lets us see exactly what's inside your sewer line—whether it's tangled roots, broken clay pipe, or just a clean bill of health. You'll watch the footage with us so you know what’s going on beneath your yard.
Our team handles everything from drain cleaning and targeted repairs to trenchless pipe lining, pipe bursting, and full excavation replacements. If you’re dealing with a sewage backup right now, call our 24/7 emergency hotline. We provide clear, upfront pricing before we begin any repairs.
What We Offer for Sewer Line Issues
Detailed Sewer Camera Inspection
We insert a waterproof video camera into your sewer line through a cleanout or toilet flange to get a real-time look at the pipe’s condition. This allows us to spot root invasions, cracks, separated joints, sagging sections, grease accumulations, pipe collapses, and any foreign debris. Without this inspection, repairs are just a shot in the dark.
You’ll get to watch the footage with us and understand exactly what’s happening down there. If your home in Lombard is older, we highly recommend this inspection before buying or selling, since sewer laterals are often overlooked during standard home inspections. We can also include this camera check as part of our drain cleaning services when you have ongoing clog trouble.
Trenchless Sewer Repair via CIPP Lining
Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining lets us rehabilitate your existing sewer pipe without digging a trench. We insert a flexible liner saturated with epoxy resin into the damaged pipe and inflate it so it molds perfectly inside. After it cures with heat or UV light, it forms a tough, new pipe within your old one, blocking root growth, resisting corrosion, and lasting over 50 years.
This option works well when your sewer line still holds its shape but has cracks or root issues. It protects your landscaping, driveway, and walkways from the disruption of digging. Many Lombard homes with older clay or cast iron laterals benefit from this less intrusive and typically more affordable option compared to digging out the whole line.
Pipe Bursting for Trenchless Sewer Replacement
If your sewer line is beyond repair with lining but you want to avoid digging a trench across your yard, pipe bursting can replace the pipe underground. We pull a bursting head through the old pipe, breaking it apart, while simultaneously pulling a new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe behind it. This only requires excavation at the access points, not across the full run.
This method fits well with the soil conditions around Lombard and typical home sewer line lengths. It’s not suitable for pipes that sag severely or have steep grade changes, but when it applies, it cuts down on time, cost, and yard damage.
Traditional Sewer Excavation & Replacement
Sometimes the damage demands a conventional dig—like when the main line has collapsed, sagged badly, or the pipe is too degraded for trenchless methods. Our crew will excavate the damaged section, remove it, and replace it with new schedule 40 PVC pipe installed with the proper slope and bedding. We’ll backfill carefully, compact the soil, and restore your yard as close to its original state as possible. We handle any needed permits, too.
We always assess if trenchless options are feasible before recommending excavation. When we’re working near your sewer, it’s also a smart time to check your water line, since they often run close together underground.
Root Cutting and Long-Term Prevention
Tree roots cause more sewer line issues than anything else around here. They sneak into joints in clay tile or cracks in cast iron pipes, then expand until they block the line entirely. We remove roots using mechanical cutters and flush out debris with high-pressure hydro jetting. But cutting roots is only a temporary fix if the pipe remains vulnerable. We'll recommend lining or pipe replacement to stop roots from coming back. If roots have damaged internal drain pipes too, we’ll take care of that as part of the job.
What Our Sewer Cameras Reveal in Lombard, IL
The sewer systems in Lombard and the nearby western Chicago suburbs reflect decades of evolving construction. Many homes built between the 1950s and early 1970s use clay tile laterals—short pipe sections joined with bell-and-spigot fittings that roots love to invade. Our local clay-rich soil and Illinois’s harsh freeze-thaw cycles cause these joints to widen over time. If your home was built before 1975, there’s a good chance roots or joint separations are lurking underground.
Houses from the 1970s and ’80s often shift to cast iron pipes inside with either clay tile or the first PVC pipes for the sewer laterals. Cast iron is sturdy but tends to corrode and accumulate scale on the inside, slowing drainage. If you live in an ’80s ranch or split-level in Lombard and notice gradual drain slowdowns, iron corrosion might be the cause.
Common Illinois trees like willows, silver maples, oaks, and cottonwoods aggressively seek water. If any are within 30 feet of your sewer line—especially near your yard’s main sewer route—getting a camera inspection now can prevent a messy backup later.
Early Signs of Sewer Trouble
- Several drains sluggish or backing up simultaneously
- Toilets gurgling when other water runs
- Foul sewer smell inside the home or outside
- Bright green grass patches above sewer lines
- Wet or sunken spots in yard along pipe path
- Floor drains backing up in basement
- Increased rodent sightings (rats can enter through broken lines)
- Frequent main line backups despite cleaning efforts
Sewer Pipe Materials by Construction Era
Homes before 1970 in Lombard: Clay tile / terracotta pipes, prone to root issues and often 60+ years old
1950s to 1970s: Orangeburg (fiber and tar paper pipe), which tends to compress and collapse over decades; replacement is urgent if present
1970s to 1980s: Cast iron pipes indoors, clay tile or early PVC outdoors; watch for internal corrosion of cast iron
After 1985: Schedule 40 PVC pipe — smooth, long-lasting, and resistant to corrosion
Sewer Line Questions? We’ve Got Answers
Look out for multiple slow or backed-up drains at once, toilets that gurgle when water’s running elsewhere, sewer smells inside or outside your home, unusually green grass over the pipe’s route, soggy or sunken lawn areas, and backups from the main line even after cleaning. If you see these, call us for a thorough inspection before it turns into an emergency.
Trenchless repairs like CIPP lining and pipe bursting fix or replace pipes without digging a full trench. These methods work when the pipe hasn’t collapsed and the surrounding soil is stable. They cause less yard damage and usually get the job done faster and less expensively than traditional digging. We’ll let you know if your situation qualifies and explain the best solution.
Costs vary a lot depending on what’s wrong. Clearing roots might be a few hundred dollars, trenchless lining can be $3,000 to $8,000, and full excavations with replacement can top $10,000. We always recommend a camera inspection first to provide an accurate price before starting any work.
Clay tile pipes last about 50 to 60 years and many in Lombard are at or past that point. Cast iron usually lasts 50 to 75 years, PVC can last over 100 years, and Orangeburg pipes tend to fail between 30 and 50 years. Regular video inspections help catch problems early to extend your pipe’s service life.
Yes, a sewer inspection is vital because typical home inspections don’t cover sewer laterals. Hidden issues like root invasion, partial collapses, or sagging pipes won’t show up until after you move in. Investing in a camera inspection before closing can save you big money and headaches down the road.