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Like most appliances and systems in our homes, sewer lines eventually require replacements. But unlike most other things, these lines need immediate attention. Any delays can result in extensive damage or health hazards.
Call Staton Heating, Cooling & Plumbing where we provide a range of sewer line repair methods, including pipe bursting and pipelining. Get in contact with us today, and we’ll help you determine the right excavation method for your sewer line repair.
Exposure to sewer gas may cause side effects like nausea, headaches, dizziness, and impaired cognitive abilities. Not to mention, it smells like rotten eggs! You’ll need a repair ASAP. Several strategies are used to repair sewer lines, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
External Excavation
This traditional method of sewer pipe repair is tried and true; it’s been around for years and continues to be used in excavations.
With an external sewer line excavation, workers must dig trenches and tunnels to access the sewer line. This will expose the pipe completely so that it’s easier to repair or replace. However, it often causes damage to the surrounding land and structures.
Interior Access Excavation
Rather than digging up a large section of the yard, this method involves precise excavation where the damage is. It’s a way to repair sewer lines without digging large trenches.
Even though trenchless sewer line excavation methods can be costly, you won’t need to spend money repairing landscape damage once it’s done. However, it’s not always possible to use this technique; if the lines are damaged too extensively, pipe bursting may not be viable.
Reasons for Digging Up Sewer Lines
No one wants to have their lawn excavated—but if your sewer line needs repairs, it may be necessary. Here are a few common reasons why excavations are performed:
- The existing line is damaged. Oftentimes, this is due to tree roots. Damage to your sewer line can also be caused by oil, grease, and flushing things other than toilet paper. Avoid costly repairs by scheduling routine maintenance, like drain cleaning services.
- You’re updating your septic system. Switching from a traditional septic tank to the city sewer system? You might choose to do this if your septic tank needs repairs, or if a new city bylaw requires it. If so, you’ll need a new sewer line to make the change.
- Doesn’t need extra space – as the whole-house air purifier goes into the HVAC system itself, it won’t take up any space as many of the individual purifiers do.
Sewer Line Excavation Process
Before the real work begins, excavators start by marking all utility lines. Accidentally hitting a utility line may cause a service outage in your area and cause serious injuries to those nearby—in some cases, it may even result in death. Careful and precise planning is key to a successful sewer line repair.
Next, the workers will use video inspection technology to assess the condition of your pipes. It allows them to get a closer look at what’s happening within the line. Based on this information, they can select a strategy that’s optimal for your property and pipes. The plumbers may need to obtain permits or other inspections to proceed with the repair.
The specific plumbing excavation process varies depending on the methods that are used. We’re going to detail a few of them here:
Pipe Bursting vs. Open-Top Excavation
Which repair method is best for your property: trench or trenchless sewer repair? There are pros and cons to each:
Pipe Bursting
Some homeowners are hesitant to repair sewer lines because they don’t want trenches dug into their yards—it fixes their sewer line, but it ruins their lawn! One of the main advantages of pipe bursting is that it won’t require any trenches to be dug.
To remove old and broken pipes, we used a pneumatic or hydraulic head. We remove the old damaged pipe and replace it with a new one that’s perfectly sized to fit in that space.
If you’re interested in trenchless sewer line repair in Anne Arundel or Howard County, we also offer pipelining (also known as cured-in-place piping). With this method, your existing pipes are relined with epoxy. This saves you the trouble of removing the old pipes; once they’re relined, they’ll work as efficiently as if they were a new sewer line.
These repair methods have only been around for the last two decades, making them relatively recent. The lack of digging minimizes costs, both in terms of labor and what you’d spend to fix your property afterward.
Open-Top Excavation
In cases where a trenchless sewer line repair isn’t viable, there is an alternative method:
An open-top sewer line excavation is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it ensures that your sewer line is completely repaired. Holes must be dug on either side of the pipe and around it, too. As you can imagine, this means a large portion of your yard must be dug up.
Once the pipes are unearthed, the repairs can begin. Whether the pipe requires a total replacement or just an adjustment, the workers will have easy access to the sewer line.
An open-top excavation tends to be more affordable than a trenchless repair. It’s a reliable way to repair a faulty sewer line or replace it with an entirely new pipe. That being said, this method has its disadvantages—namely, the time it takes to complete, and the expense associated with repairing your yard.
At some point or another, most home and business owners deal with a damaged sewer line. A prompt replacement is the key to minimizing damage or exposure to any hazards. We also offer expert sewer backups repair, drain cleaning, and water heater repair to keep your home’s plumbing in excellent condition. Wondering which of these repair methods are best for your property? We can help!
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Client Testimonials
REAL REVIEWS FROM REAL CLIENTS
Warren J
1 day ago
Great experience with Tim. Very thorough and informative.
Great experience with Steve 5/19/26. Got my a/c up and running quickly.
Great experience with Steve 5/19/26. Got my a/c up and running quickly.
anne
2 days ago
Matthew is extremely professional. He has an an above and beyond command of the knowledge required for his line of work. He takes time to educate and explain things so you know exactly what he’s fixing and what things to look for in the future. He even takes time to explain the different materials he’s using and the reasons why. He offers several different options as far as cost, and he doesn’t pressure you into any one or the other. He gives you the information you need and then gives you the freedom to make your choice. It is rare for me to have someone of such high standards and such professionalism working here at my house. He is courteous, caring, and an incredible listener. He redid every single thing under my kitchen sink that had been causing me problems for time now. I am over the top pleased with the work he did as well as the state and plumbing company themselves. This is an excellent company and very trustworthy.
Marianne Martin
2 days ago
Pleasant visit and serviced the back up battery for my sump. No charge as it still under warranty
Rob Manigold
2 days ago
Christian was excellent. Polite, personable, knowledgeable, professional! If I was running a business I would want employees like Christian! If I could have Christian for all future visits that would be great!
Julie Venuti
2 days ago
My toilet was clogged at 10:30 at night. I called Staton plumbing at 9 o’clock in the morning the next day and they were here by noon. Matt came and couldn’t have been more professional or knowledgeable. He gave me an estimate, he fixed it and It has been working perfectly since. The price was more than fair and they even followed up the next day to make sure everything was working well. It is hard to find a company with such incredible customer satisfaction and knowledge of their trade. I would use them again in a second.
Samuel M
3 days ago
Joe F was great! Handled the issue quickly and promptly, addressed all our concerns and was happy to explain anything we had questions about
Laura Ferry
3 days ago
Fantastic service. Made a difficult situation so much easier. Really appreciate how responsive and informative they were.
Ashley Hudson
4 days ago
Staton Plumbing and Heating was fantastic to work with from start to finish. I was always able to get ahold of them (despite them having a hard time getting ahold of me - I do apologize for that) and everyone I spoke with was friendly and answered all of my questions. Our technician, Matt McClure, was timely and had great work ethic. He explained everything in detail and gave us three different options for the replacement of our water system that was failing, causing corrosion of our pipes and very high acidic water. All in all it was a seamless process and I highly recommend them and will also be working with them in the future if and when any other problems arise.
Justin Goldston
4 days ago
Excellent service. Had an issue on a hot summer Sunday and a technician came out within an hour of my call and addressed everything immediately.
Travis Mclaurin
5 days ago
Matt from Stanton Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing was fantastic. He was very informative about the issues we’re having. He was transparent with the repair process and pricing. He also offered solid suggestions on what we can do in the future to maintain our water heater. Thank you.