Telltale signs: sewer line replacement
Replacement is not where we start. It is where the evidence leads after cleaning and a camera survey have shown the pipe itself has failed. Typical findings that tip the balance:
- A collapsed or crushed section the cable cannot pass
- Clay or Orangeburg pipe that has split along its length
- A belly where waste sits and builds up between clearings
- Root masses returning within months of every clearing
What we bring
- Jetter or sectional cable machine with root and grease heads
- Push camera with a sonde to mark depth
- Spare cleanout caps and test balls
Tested before we leave
- Camera run end to end after clearing
- Depth and distance of each defect marked
- Recording reviewed with you on screen
On the job: what we open, clear and test
We map the route first, marking the depth and the property line, and arrange locates for gas, hydro and cable so nobody digs blind. Depending on the ground and what sits above the pipe, the line may be replaced by open trench, by bursting a fresh pipe along the old route between two small pits, or, where the old host pipe is sound enough, by lining it.
New pipe is laid to proper slope, bedded in clean granular fill and inspected before backfill. Toronto requires a permit for this work, and an inspector will usually see the open trench. Where the fault extends onto city land, the City is responsible for that portion, and we coordinate so the two halves meet.
What can change the job
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Depth of the pipe | Deeper lines need more excavation and shoring. |
| What is above it | Driveways, porches and mature trees change the method. |
| Length to the property line | Longer runs favour trenchless approaches. |
| Interior connection | The cast-iron stub inside the wall may need replacing too. |
Many owners pair replacement with a backwater valve, since the main is already exposed, and with fixing an unreliable floor drain.
Etobicoke homes and this job
Post-war houses in Markland Wood, Eringate and Richview often have laterals at the end of their service life, and older streets near the Humber have clay that has been fighting roots for eighty years. Lot widths are generous enough in many of these areas that the job can be planned around gardens and drives rather than through them.
Before you call
If you already have camera footage, keep it handy. Ring (365) 816-2905 and we will talk through what it shows and the options that fit your lot.