Most sewer laterals do not fail all at once. They crack, shift, get roots in the joints, and then, some months or years later, they back up at the worst possible time. The good news is that a failing lateral usually gives some warning. The bad news is that the warnings are easy to blame on something else.
Here is what to watch for, what a camera inspection costs with us, and what happens once you know.
First, which pipe is the lateral?
The lateral is the pipe from your house to the town sewer main, or to your septic tank if you are on septic. It runs under your yard, and often under a driveway or the road. In New Jersey the homeowner often owns it up to the main or the curb or property line, but that varies by town. Our post on who pays for lateral repairs goes through it. Not sure where yours exits the house? See how to find your cleanout and shutoff.
Warning signs, from early to late
Slow drains in the whole house. One slow sink is a clog. Several fixtures slow at once, especially the lowest ones, is a main line problem. All drains slow at once has a two-minute test.
Gurgling. The toilet gurgles when you run the washer or drain a tub. Air is being pushed through water that is partly blocking the line.
A backup that clears and returns. You snaked it or poured something, it flowed for a few weeks, and it came back. A clog that keeps returning in the same place usually has a cause, like a crack with roots in it or a low spot, that clearing does not remove.
A sewer smell, indoors or out. A smell near a basement drain or at one spot in the yard can mean a leak at a crack. See sewer odor.
A strip of green grass or a soggy patch over the line. A leaking lateral waters and fertilizes the soil over it. A stripe of lush grass, a wet spot in a dry week, or a soft area that is not near a downspout or sprinkler is worth a look.
A sunken or settled area. A dip over the line, a driveway slab that has settled, or a small hole opening in the lawn needs attention soon.
Roots. Roots usually enter through small openings at joints and follow moisture, then widen the gap they came through. If you have a large tree between the house and the street, assume the line has been visited.
Rodents or insects coming up from drains. A broken line is a door.
An old pipe material. If the house is older, the pipe could be clay with many joints, cast iron that rusts from the inside, or Orangeburg, a tar-paper pipe that deforms. See Orangeburg pipe in NJ homes.
No single sign proves a crack. Two or three together mean you should look.
Why you do not wait for the backup
A backup is the most expensive way to learn about a cracked pipe. Sewage in a basement means cleanup, possibly an insurance claim, and a repair done in a hurry. Finding the problem while the line still drains gives you time to compare options, decide between a spot repair and a full replacement, and schedule the work. If you are buying or selling, an inspection finding at closing is also a negotiation, covered in a sewer scope that failed inspection.
How you actually find out: a camera inspection
A camera inspection runs a waterproof camera through a cleanout or drain opening and records the inside of the pipe. A cracked, offset, root-filled or collapsed section shows up on the screen.
Our prices:
- $300 when there is an accessible cleanout.
- $500 if the toilet has to be pulled to get the camera in.
- Add $150 for a video recording and a written report.
We point out one thing about the report: if you are buying a house, selling one, or filing an insurance or town claim, get the video and written report. It is $150, and it is the record you will need.
Our full explanation of what the visit includes is on the sewer camera inspection page.
What the camera tells you
- Clean pipe, good joints. Good news. You have a clog or a household issue, not a failed lateral.
- Roots in joints, pipe otherwise sound. Often cleared and then watched, sometimes with a repair at the joint.
- A crack, offset joint or short bad section. A spot repair is a realistic option.
- A long run of damaged pipe, a belly, Orangeburg or a collapse. The pipe has run its course.
What repair costs
Ranges, not quotes. A lateral spot repair runs about $3,000 to $8,000. A full lateral replacement runs about $10,000 to $20,000. What moves the number is depth, length, what is on top of the pipe (lawn, driveway, road), access, and what the camera finds. A tight lawn with a clear path is at the low end. A long run under a driveway and a road opening is high. Our sewer line replacement cost page breaks it down.
Repair or replacement? Sometimes relining is an option for the right pipe. We compare it with digging in sewer pipe lining vs replacement. Dug repairs are on the sewer lateral replacement page and under lateral repair and replacement.
Do this now
- Write down any warning signs you have noticed, with dates.
- Find your cleanout. If there is no cleanout, tell us. That affects access and price.
- Do not flush wipes or run harsh drain chemicals into a line you suspect is damaged.
- Book a camera inspection. The owner or a senior supervisor comes out for every estimate.
Call 862-268-2510 or use the contact page. If sewage is already backing up, see what to do in a sewer backup and use the 24/7 emergency line.
