Charlotte Sewer Repair

What Usually Makes People Call

Most sewer repair calls do not start with somebody asking for pipe lining. They start with a mess.

• Toilet bubbles or backs up
• Shower drain gurgles when the washer runs
• Water shows up around the cleanout
• Sewer smell outside or near the crawlspace
• Main line keeps clogging
• Roots were found in the sewer line
• Home inspection found a sewer problem
• Old cast iron is holding water

Sewer Camera Inspection First

A camera tells us what is going on underground. Roots, cracks, bad joints, bellies, collapsed pipe, grease, broken clay, rough cast iron — it usually shows up on camera.

After that we can talk about options. Sometimes it just needs cleaned. Sometimes a section needs dug up. Sometimes the line may be a good fit for CIPP pipe lining.

Sewer camera inspection before sewer repair or pipe lining.

Can The Sewer Be Lined?

Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no.

CIPP pipe lining puts a new liner inside the old sewer pipe. It can save a yard, driveway, sidewalk, patio, or landscaping from being dug up.

But the old pipe still has to be able to take the liner. If the pipe is crushed, badly collapsed, missing sections, or has the wrong shape, lining may not be the right fix.

Old Sewer Pipe Around Charlotte

Cast Iron Sewer Lines

Older cast iron can rust and scale inside. Sometimes the bottom of the pipe is worn out and waste starts catching instead of flowing.

Clay Sewer Pipe

Clay pipe usually has joints. Roots like joints. Once roots get in, the clog usually comes back unless the pipe is repaired, lined, or replaced.

Orangeburg Pipe

Some older sewer lines are Orangeburg. It can lose shape over time. If it is too deformed, lining may not work.

PVC Problems

PVC can still have problems if it shifted, was installed wrong, has a belly, or has roots getting into a bad joint.

Stuff We See On Sewer Calls

A house in South Charlotte had roots packed into an older clay sewer joint. The customer had already cleared the line once and it came back.

Another sewer line had old cast iron under the house and the pipe was holding water. That kind of problem usually needs more than another drain cleaning.

We also get calls from buyers after a home inspection. They want to know if the sewer is usable, if it can be lined, or if replacement needs to be negotiated before closing.

Sewer Repair, Pipe Lining, Or Replacement

There is no one answer for every Charlotte sewer line.

If the sewer just has buildup, cleaning may be enough. If the pipe is broken in one spot, a spot repair may work. If the line has damage but still has enough structure, CIPP lining may be a good option. If it is collapsed or too far gone, replacement may be the honest answer.

Charlotte Areas We Serve

We handle sewer repair and CIPP pipe lining calls around Charlotte and nearby areas.

• SouthPark
• Ballantyne
• Myers Park
• Dilworth
• Plaza Midwood
• NoDa
• University City
• Steele Creek
• Elizabeth
• Cotswold
• South End
• Mint Hill area

Do Not Guess On A Sewer Line

A sewer line can look like a simple clog until the camera shows broken pipe, roots, a belly, or failing cast iron.

That is why we inspect first and then talk about the repair.