Sewer backup: what to do first
- Stop using every fixture. Each flush and drain adds more water to a line that is already full.
- Turn off the main water valve if a fixture is overflowing or water will not stop flowing.
- Leave the area if the smell is strong. Sewage gas is unpleasant, and some rooms need ventilation.
- Keep children, pets and bare feet out of the wet area. Backed-up water carries bacteria.
- Photograph the water, the affected rooms and your belongings before anything is moved.
- Call us. Say which fixtures are involved and whether water is at a floor drain or cleanout.
We answer backups at night, on weekends and on holidays. The first visit usually clears the line enough to stop the damage, and a camera pass then shows whether the pipe needs repair.
Repair, or just clear it? Reading what the camera finds
A backup does not always mean a broken pipe. Grease, roots or a wad of wipes can stop a sound line, and cleaning fixes it. Repair is the answer when the camera shows damage that will cause the same trouble again.
We run the camera after clearing a main line so you see the cause. Common findings include a crack along the pipe, a joint that has slipped out of line, a sag that holds water, or a section that has collapsed. Our sewer camera inspection page explains what each looks like on the recording.
Cracked or broken pipe
Often leaves soil or roots entering the line. Repair or lining is usually the fix.
Offset joint
Two pipe ends no longer line up, and debris catches on the lip.
Belly or sag
A low spot holds water and solids. It will clog again after cleaning.
Collapse
The pipe has caved in. Cleaning will not open it, and excavation or replacement is needed.
Trenchless lining or open-trench repair
Both methods fix a damaged sewer line. Which one fits depends on the pipe's condition, depth, and what sits above it.
| Question | Trenchless lining | Open-trench repair |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | A resin-soaked liner is pulled into the old pipe and cured to form a new pipe inside it | A trench is dug, the bad pipe is removed and new pipe is laid |
| Yard and driveway | Usually one or two small access holes | A trench along the line, plus restoration afterward |
| Fixes a sag | No, a liner follows the old pipe's shape | Yes, new pipe can be set to the correct slope |
| Fixes a collapse | Usually not | Yes |
| Pipe diameter | The liner reduces it slightly | Full diameter can be restored |
| Best fit | Cracks and root entry in an otherwise straight, open pipe | Collapses, bellies, severe offsets and short spot repairs |
A camera recording decides which of these is even possible.
Lining is not possible when the pipe has collapsed, has a severe offset, or has a sag deep enough to hold water. In those cases we say so and quote the open-trench option. We would rather tell you that than line a pipe that will keep backing up.
Cast iron sewer pipe repair
We do not know what your line is made of until the camera shows it, and we will not assume. If it turns out to be cast iron, a few things matter. Cast iron corrodes from the inside, builds up rough scale, and can crack or break at joints as it ages.
A short broken section can be cut out and replaced with modern pipe and a coupling. A long run with widespread corrosion is often better lined or replaced. We look at the whole line before recommending a spot repair, because patching one section of a failing pipe can leave you with a second repair soon after.
Who is responsible for the line?
In Lakewood, sewer service is almost entirely provided by Pierce County Public Works and Utilities. The county's guidance says the homeowner is responsible for the sewer line from the home to the public lines. A blocked or broken pipe on your side is yours to repair, even if the cause is a root from a neighbor's tree.
Tacoma serves a few areas, including the Flett subdivision and parts of northeast Lakewood, and the Town of Steilacoom serves Western State Hospital. If you are unsure who runs your sewer, check your bill or ask the county. We will not guess the boundary for you.
If the camera shows the problem is in the public main, we say so and show you the footage. That saves you from paying to fix a pipe you do not own.
The side sewer permit process
Apply online
The county takes side sewer permit applications through its online permitting system.
County review
The county reviews the application and issues the permit.
Do the work
A certified plumber performs the repair under the permit.
Inspection
County Planning and Public Works inspects the finished work.
The City of Lakewood says it is not a full-service permit agency and that sewer permits and inspections are handled by outside agencies. Confirm the current steps with the county before work starts. Anyone doing plumbing for hire in Washington must be certified by the state Department of Labor and Industries, and you can verify a plumber on the state's online lookup.
Septic and sewer: Tillicum, Woodbrook and Lakewood code 12.15.060
Tillicum and Woodbrook were on septic until county sewer arrived in 2011 and 2012. If you live in one of them, your house may have an old tank somewhere on the lot that was never fully decommissioned. That is worth asking about before you dig, plan an addition or sell.
Lakewood Municipal Code 12.15.060 lets interim septic stay up to 10 years after notice that sewer is available, with Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department certification needed beyond 5 years. Connection becomes mandatory on septic failure, intensified use, new construction occupancy, sale of the property, subdivision or a nuisance order.
That last point matters if you are selling. Confirm your status with the county before listing.
We repair and connect sewer lines. We do not approve septic systems or certify them. Septic owners handle their own maintenance, and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department approves on-site systems, so call them about tank inspection, drainfield trouble or certification.
Drain pipe repair inside the house
Not every repair is in the yard. A cracked drain pipe under a slab, in a wall or in a crawlspace shows up as a stain, a persistent odor, or a gurgle that appears after you drain a tub. We find the damaged section with a camera and a locator, then open the smallest area possible to replace it. When the break is under a slab, the choices narrow, and we explain them before cutting concrete.
What drives sewer repair cost
You get a clear price before work starts, after a camera recording shows what is wrong. Sewer repair varies more than most plumbing jobs, so a phone number would be a guess.
- Length of damaged pipeA single cracked section costs far less than a whole line.
- Depth and locationA shallow line in open yard is simple. A deep line under a driveway, tree or building takes more work.
- MethodLining and open trench have different costs, and the pipe's condition decides which is possible.
- RestorationDigging may mean replacing paving or landscaping. We tell you what is included.
- Permit and inspectionCounty permit steps add time and fees that we explain up front.
Homeowners policies commonly exclude wear and tear on a sewer line. Backup damage may be covered only if you added a water backup endorsement, so call your insurer before cleanup and keep photos.
Call us with the camera findings and we will price the repair.
(253) 275-5116Sewer repairs near Lakewood
We handle sewer calls in Lakewood and nearby towns. In University Place, the city says sewer is available citywide but some residential areas are still unsewered, so ask first whether your home is on sewer or septic.
Slope and cleanouts under the code
The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) sets a minimum slope, or fall, for drain pipe so that waste keeps moving. It also calls for accessible cleanouts at defined points on a building drain.
When a repaired section is laid, the plumber should check the fall before backfilling. A repair that leaves a dip or a flat spot is where the next clog will form.
Sewer line repair questions
If the line clears and then backs up again within weeks, a camera should look. Cracks, offsets, sags and collapses all cause repeat backups. A single clog from grease or wipes usually just needs cleaning, as our hydro jetting page explains.
Stop all water use, keep people and pets away from the wet area, photograph the damage, and call a plumber. Do not pour chemical cleaners into a full line.
Yes. We dispatch at any hour for backups and broken lines. Tell the dispatcher which drains are affected and whether water has reached the floor.
No. Lining needs a pipe that is open and reasonably straight. A collapsed pipe, a severe offset or a deep sag usually needs open-trench repair. The camera recording tells us which applies.
Pierce County's guidance says the homeowner is responsible for the line from the home to the public lines. If the problem is in the public main, it is not yours. We show you the footage so you can tell.
Plan on it. The county takes side sewer permits through its online system, reviews them, then inspects the work. Confirm the steps with the county before work starts.
Both areas were on septic until county sewer arrived in 2011 and 2012. An old tank may still be on the lot. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department handles septic questions.