Sewer Line Repair in Marietta, GA: Camera Inspection and Trenchless Options
Sewer line repair in Marietta, GA is the diagnosis and repair of the buried pipe that carries wastewater from a home to the public sewer main. Plumbers repair sewer lines by excavation, pipe lining or pipe bursting, based on what a sewer camera shows. Call (770) 230-0611 to book Plumber Marietta GA.
Sewer work is part of our full-service plumbing company in Marietta, GA. Our licensed plumbers inspect, clean and repair sewer laterals across Marietta and Cobb County.
What Are the Warning Signs of a Damaged Sewer Line?
A damaged sewer line shows up as repeated backups, slow drains across the home, sewage odor and wet or sunken spots in the yard. These 7 signs point to the main sewer lateral rather than a single fixture:
- 2 or more drains back up or slow down at the same time.
- Toilets gurgle when a sink or washer drains.
- Sewage odor rises inside the home or near the cleanout.
- The yard has a soggy, sunken or unusually green strip over the line.
- Drain cleaning clears the line, but the backup returns within weeks.
- Water appears at the outdoor cleanout or a basement floor drain.
- A camera inspection shows roots, cracks or a sag.
Sewage inside the home is an emergency. Call our 24 hour emergency plumbers in Marietta.
What Damages Sewer Lines in Marietta?
Tree roots, clay soil movement, aging pipe materials and grease cause most sewer line damage in Marietta. Each cause creates a different defect.
| Cause | Defect it creates |
|---|---|
| Tree roots | Roots enter joints and cracks and block flow |
| Clay soil movement | Shifted joints (offsets) and sags (bellies) |
| Aging pipe material | Corrosion, cracking, deformed or collapsed pipe |
| Grease buildup | Narrowed pipe and repeat blockages |
| Heavy rain | Ground water entering cracked pipe |
Older Marietta and East Cobb neighborhoods have mature trees growing above sewer laterals. Roots grow toward the moisture that escapes from small cracks. Cobb County clay soil swells when wet and shrinks when dry, which shifts buried pipe joints. Read Tree Roots in Sewer Line: Warning Signs and Red Clay Soil and Sewer Line Problems in Cobb County.
Which Sewer Pipe Materials Fail First?
Orangeburg, clay and cast iron sewer pipes fail more often than modern PVC pipe. Older Marietta homes carry 1 of these 4 materials:
- Orangeburg pipe: a pipe made from wood pulp and coal tar, common from the 1940s to the 1970s. It softens and deforms with age.
- Vitrified clay pipe: a ceramic pipe made from fired clay and shale. Its joints admit roots.
- Cast iron pipe: a heavy metal pipe that corrodes from the inside.
- PVC pipe: a modern plastic pipe with glued joints that resist roots.
Who Is Responsible for the Sewer Line in Marietta?
The property owner is responsible for the private sewer lateral that runs from the home to the public sewer connection. The utility maintains the public sewer main in the street.
Marietta homes connect to the public sewer of Cobb County Water System or Marietta Power & Water, depending on the address. Call the utility when sewage overflows from a manhole or the street. Call a plumber for backups inside the home or on the private lateral. Our guide Marietta Power and Water vs Cobb County Water: Who to Call for a Leak shows which utility serves each area.
How Do Plumbers Diagnose a Sewer Line Problem?
Plumbers diagnose a sewer line problem with a sewer camera inspection, which shows the defect type, its depth and its distance from the cleanout. The camera result decides the repair method.
The plumber follows 3 steps:
- Clear the line. The plumber snakes or jets a blocked line so the camera can pass. See drain cleaning in Marietta.
- Run the camera. A waterproof camera travels through the lateral and records video.
- Locate the defect. A locator on the camera head marks the exact spot and depth above ground.
The plumber shows the video to the homeowner and explains each defect before giving a written price.
What Are the Sewer Line Repair Methods?
The 4 sewer line repair methods are spot repair, cured-in-place pipe lining, pipe bursting and full open-trench replacement. The US Environmental Protection Agency lists pipe lining and pipe bursting as trenchless rehabilitation methods, which use the existing pipe as a path for the new pipe or liner.
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | Dig at the defect and replace a short section | 1 isolated break or offset |
| Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining | Insert a resin-coated liner and cure it inside the old pipe | Cracks, leaking joints, root entry in a pipe that holds its shape |
| Pipe bursting | Pull a bursting head through the old pipe and a new pipe in behind it | Pipe that is broken, collapsed or deformed |
| Open-trench replacement | Dig a trench along the full line and lay new pipe | Severe sags, wrong slope, or no trenchless access |
What Is Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining?
Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining is a trenchless repair that inserts a resin-coated liner into the old pipe. The resin hardens into a new pipe inside the old one. Lining seals cracks and joints without a trench. Lining is not a fix for collapsed pipe.
What Is Pipe Bursting?
Pipe bursting is a trenchless replacement that breaks the old pipe outward while pulling a new pipe into the same path. Pipe bursting needs 2 small access pits, one at each end of the line. Bursting replaces broken and collapsed pipe that lining cannot fix.
How Do You Choose the Right Sewer Repair Method?
Choose the repair method by the defect type, the length of damaged pipe, and what sits above the line. The camera inspection answers all 3 questions.
- A single break near the house points to spot repair.
- Cracks and root entry along a pipe that keeps its shape point to lining.
- A collapsed or deformed pipe points to pipe bursting.
- A sag that holds standing water points to open-trench replacement of that section.
Driveways, patios and mature trees above the line favor trenchless methods. Our sewer line replacement cost guide for Marietta explains how each method affects price.
How Do You Prevent Sewer Line Damage?
Keep grease and wipes out of drains, plant trees away from the sewer lateral, and schedule a camera inspection for older lines. These 4 habits protect the line:
- Pour cooled grease into the trash, never into a drain.
- Flush only toilet paper.
- Plant new trees well away from the path of the sewer lateral.
- Book a camera inspection for homes with clay, cast iron or Orangeburg pipe.
Sewer Guides for Marietta Homeowners
Sewer backups often start as slow drains. Homeowners can read How to Unclog a Drain Without Chemicals for safe first steps on a single slow fixture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my sewer line is broken?
A broken sewer line causes backups in 2 or more drains, sewage odor and soggy spots in the yard. A sewer camera inspection confirms the break and its location.
Can tree roots be removed from a sewer line?
Yes. A plumber cuts roots with a cable machine or hydro jetting, but roots return through the same cracks until the pipe is lined or replaced.
What is trenchless sewer repair?
Trenchless sewer repair fixes or replaces a sewer line through small access points instead of a full trench, using pipe lining or pipe bursting.
Who pays for sewer line repair in Marietta?
The property owner pays for repairs to the private sewer lateral between the home and the public sewer connection. The utility maintains the public main.
How long does sewer line repair take?
Most spot repairs and lining jobs finish in 1 to 2 days, depending on line length, access and permits.
Book Sewer Line Repair in Marietta, GA
Repeat backups or sewage odor? Call (770) 230-0611. Plumber Marietta GA inspects and repairs sewer lines across Marietta, East Cobb, Kennesaw, Smyrna, Roswell, Acworth and Vinings.