Is it a cleaning problem or a repair problem?
Plenty of sewer backups come from soft clogs that cleaning fixes for good. A repair is different: it addresses a pipe that is cracked, offset, sagging, or rooted at a joint, and it is the reason a cleaned line keeps coming back.
A common case is a localized crack in a plastic sewer pipe with roots growing in, where a spot repair may be enough. A camera pays for itself here, because it shows where the damage is and how far it extends.
- Backups that return within weeks of a cleaning point to a structural cause.
- A cable that stops at the same distance every time suggests a break, an offset or a heavy root mass.
- Soggy or sunken ground along the line can mean a leaking pipe, though it can have other causes.
- Sewer smell in the yard or basement deserves a camera look, not air freshener.
When a broken sewer line is an emergency
Treat it as an emergency when sewage is coming up inside the home, when several fixtures stop draining at once, or when a toilet will not flush and water in the tub rises. Stop all water use right away.
Keep people and pets out of any room with sewage, and don't try to rinse it down a drain. We offer same-day service when available, and we also take after-hours calls on the 24/7 line.
How we find the damage before we dig
Clear the line enough to see
If the pipe is blocked, we open it with a cable or hydro jetting when the camera confirms the pipe can take it.
Run the camera
A waterproof camera on a push cable records the inside of the pipe, showing cracks, offsets, roots, bellies and breaks.
Locate the problem
A locator tuned to the camera transmitter marks the surface above the damage and gives the depth.
Show you the footage
We walk through the video with you and explain what the repair options mean for your pipe.
Pipe lining and trenchless repair
Trenchless repair works through the pipe instead of around it. In pipe lining, a resin-saturated liner is pulled into the old pipe and cured in place, forming a new pipe inside the old one. That avoids cutting through a driveway, patio or landscaping.
It is not for every pipe. A line that has collapsed, has a major offset, or has a deep belly usually has to be dug. The camera footage decides which method fits.
Cast iron pipe repair
Where a home has cast iron drain pipe, the usual problems are rust scale narrowing the bore, cracks, and failed joints. Cast iron can be spot-repaired with new plastic sections, relined, or replaced.
Which one makes sense depends on how much of the run is bad. If the camera shows long stretches of heavy corrosion, replacing the whole run often costs less in the long run than repeated spot fixes.
Spot repair versus full replacement
| Option | Fits when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair (dig and replace a section) | One short damaged area, the rest of the pipe is sound | Needs a dig at that spot and restoration of the surface |
| Pipe lining | Cracks, root entry or worn pipe that is still round and continuous | Needs a clean pipe first and does not fix collapse or deep sags |
| Full replacement by trench | Collapsed, offset or heavily bellied pipe across a long run | Most disruptive, and the longest-lasting fix when the whole line is poor |
| Clean and monitor | Minor roots with an otherwise sound pipe | Cheaper now, but the problem returns without a fix |
Camera shows damage, or you suspect it?
Call the 24/7 line. We'll explain the repair options in plain words and give you a clear price before any digging begins.
Blue Stakes 811 and getting the yard ready
Any dig needs underground utilities marked first. Blue Stakes of Utah takes requests by phone at 811 on weekdays and online any time, and asks for at least 48 hours of notice counting business days, with three business days recommended. A ticket stays valid for 21 calendar days.
Clear the area
Move vehicles, planters, kids' toys and anything else sitting over the likely path.
Mark sprinkler lines
Tell us where your sprinkler and irrigation lines run, since shallow lines are easy to hit.
Pets and gates
Keep dogs inside and make sure we can reach the dig site.
Ask about permits
Riverton says a building permit is required for plumbing work regulated by the code. Ask the Riverton building department what your job needs.
Riverton's sewer setup, roots and insurance
Jordan Basin Improvement District (JBID) maintains the main, and the private line from your house to it is yours to repair. JBID notes that clay pipes from before the 1980s are prone to roots, which matters if your house is that old.
Standard homeowners policies often exclude sewer backup, so ask your insurer before work begins. We can't promise coverage, but we'll explain what the camera found so you can discuss it with them.
We also dispatch to Herriman and Draper, and the same district maintains the sewer mains there.
Septic systems: only where a property has one
A septic tank is only part of a property that isn't connected to the public sewer. If you're unsure which you have, your property records or JBID at (801) 571-1166 can tell you whether you connect to the district.
If you do have septic, tell us when you call. We'll be honest about which lines and fittings we handle and which jobs need a specialist.
What decides the cost of a sewer line repair
Length of the damaged section
A short spot repair costs far less than a long run of failed pipe.
Depth and location
Deep lines and lines under concrete, trees or structures take more labor.
Method
Lining, spot digs and trench replacement each use different equipment and time.
Surface restoration
Cutting a driveway or patio adds work that landscaping alone does not.
Permits and inspection
Ask what your job needs from the Riverton building department.
Standard homeowners policies often exclude sewer backup and rarely pay for worn or root-damaged pipe, so check your policy. Call us for a real number on your line.
Sewer line repair questions
Yes. Our emergency line is open around the clock, and same-day visits are offered when available. We start by stopping the backup and getting a camera on the line.
Often, yes. If the rest of the pipe is sound, a spot repair or a liner can fix the damaged section. A camera pass decides it.
If the line stays clear after cleaning, you're done. If it backs up again within weeks, or a cable stops at the same spot, a camera look usually finds a structural cause.
Our sewer camera inspection page covers what the video shows.
No. It saves the surface, but the pipe has to be round enough to line. Collapsed or deeply sagging pipe often needs a dig.
The district maintains the main, and the private line from your house to it is the homeowner's. JBID's cleanout test helps show which side the problem is on.
Septic work applies only where a property has a tank. Tell us what you have, and we'll say plainly whether it's our work or a specialist's.
Yes. Blue Stakes of Utah marks underground utilities, and requests need advance notice counting business days. We'll tell you what the dig requires.