Your side sewer is a system of pipes that connect your home’s drain pipes to the city’s main sewer line. Even though you probably never think of it, it can be one of the biggest sources of problems as a homeowner. The team at Best Plumbing is here to help you understand your side sewer and make sure you’re taking the right precautions to care for it.

Who is Responsible for the Side Sewer?

Even though the side sewer is the portion of the drain/sewer pipes that sits outside of your home’s footprint (i.e., under your front lawn), it’s still the responsibility of the property owner to maintain it. If anything happens to your side sewer, it’s no different than if something happened to the pipes under your kitchen sink. Given that you’ll be the one covering any bills your pipes might acquire, it’s important to understand how it works and common problems you could run into.

Common Side Sewer Problems

1. Side sewers are commonly damaged by tree roots, shifting soil, or digging. A crack in your side sewer can flood your yard with sewage, block the pipe with dirt and cause a sewage backup, or allow debris to enter the city’s main sewer line.
2. In addition to accidental damage, side sewer pipes can simply wear out over time. How long they last depends on whether they’re made with copper, PVC, concrete, or other materials, but no material lasts forever.
3. Finally, your side sewer may become clogged with grease, sanitary products, or other items flushed down your toilet or sink drain that shouldn’t have been.

Schedule a Side Sewer Inspection or Repair

If you need a side sewer inspected, you must work with a licensed professional. Since the pipes connect directly to the city’s main line, mistakes could have costly consequences for other homeowners in your area. It’s essential that you have the proper permits to make repairs. Luckily, the experts here at Best Plumbing can help you with that!

We proudly serve the greater King County area and know exactly how to inspect, detect, and repair your side sewer and other pipes within your home. Contact us now to schedule an inspection or to receive 24/7 emergency service.

Have you seen our video series walking viewers through what a trenchless sewer repair job actually looks like for Seattle homeowners? Check it out or keep reading to learn more!

Preparation

The first step in any sewer job is to camera scope the line to identify the cause of the problem. In some cases a backup might be the result of a clog that can be cleared out by jetting or cabling. In other cases, it might be that the line itself has cracked, at which point the camera scope allows us to pinpoint the exact location of the break.

Deciding the Repair Method

When deciding how we’re going to repair the sewer line, we assess the situation, taking landscape, location, and weather into account. Next we need to make sure we get a work permit from the city and that a utility company has come out to locate and clearly mark all gas and water lines in the immediate area. When possible, we use trenchless repair methods, like pipe lining, to help minimize the amount of damage to our customer’s property. Not having to dig an entire new trench also saves time and money.

How Long Does It Take?

It depends on the extent of the damage, but a major repair (where sections need to be replaced or relined) will generally take between 2-3 days to complete. This includes digging down to the break, repairing the line, getting the job inspected by the SPU, and filling in the hole again. Fortunately the length of time a customer might experience an interruption in sewer service is generally much shorter — often only for a few hours as we complete the repair on the line. 

Your Local Plumbing Experts

If you have any questions about sewer line repair in the greater Seattle area, you can always ask our plumbing experts. Family-owned and operated, Best Plumbing has proudly served the greater Seattle area for more than 50 years. Contact us today for any of your plumbing or heating needs!

When something minor happens with your home plumbing, there’s often the impulse to ignore it and hope it goes away. Strange noises, a slow drain, or low water pressure — they’re annoying, but you can live with it, right? Unfortunately, these are usually signs that something is wrong with your pipes. Stay ahead of things and contact the professionals at Best Plumbing before it gets worse. To help you out, here are five signs that it’s time to call your plumber.

Low Water Pressure

The pet peeve of homeowners everywhere: terrible water pressure. This seemingly minor problem can be caused by a variety of issues, including leaks, clogs, incorrectly sized pipes, or malfunctioning pressure valves. To get to the root of the problem as quick as possible, it’s best to contact a plumber for an inspection.

Slow Draining Water

Often, a clogged drain is something that a plunger or drain snake can fix. However, for a slow drain that just won’t unclog, it’s a good idea to call a professional. Trying too hard to clear out a stubborn block can actually cause more damage to your pipes. When in doubt, it’s best to hire a plumber and avoid any unintended, expensive repairs.

Unusual Noises

Do you hear water running through your pipes at odd times? Do you hear gurgling when you run the dishwasher or flush the toilet? A loud thud when you turn off faucets (a phenomenon known as water hammering)? Often these can be early warning signs that a problem is developing. It could be that the air chamber in your sink has become water logged, that water pressure is set too high, or that water valves or lines connecting to your appliances need to be replaced. Hiring a professional can save you a lot of time tracking down and fixing the root cause before it gets out of hand.

Strange Smells

If you catch a whiff of sulfur coming from your sink, or sewage is backing up into your bathtub, it means that something is very wrong with a sewer pipe near your home. Left unchecked, a burst sewer pipe can cause major damage to your home’s foundations and surrounding property. This is definitely not a fix-it-yourself situation — contact a certified plumber immediately.

Major Installations

A DIY mindset can make sense for smaller projects, but when it comes to making major changes to fixtures or appliances, be smart and hire a plumber. Even something that seems relatively easy, such as moving a dishwasher or sink, could result in expensive repairs if you’re not careful. Your best bet is to hire an expert who has the correct tools and know-how to get the job done. 

Get Started in Seattle Today

Find your local Seattle plumbing expert with Best Plumbing! We’ve been serving the Puget Sound area for 50 years. From minor concerns to emergency plumbing servings, we’re here to help 24/7. Give us a call at (206) 633-1700. Visit our website for more information, or check out or other blogs and YouTube channel for helpful plumbing tips!