Sewer Line Repair in Houston, TX
Sewer line repair in Houston starts with a camera. We run a small camera through your line, show you the video and give you three written options the same day. You pick the fix: line it, tunnel under the slab or dig a trench.
Signs your sewer line needs repair
- Several drains back up at once
- Gurgling noises or bubbling in toilets
- Sewage smell inside or in the yard
- Soggy patches or sinkholes in the yard
- Cracks in walls or slab that may come from a broken line
- Slow drains that return after cleaning
- A rodent problem that starts suddenly
- Water backing up in a floor drain or tub after rain
How a sewer repair works
- 1Camera inspectionWe run a camera down the cleanout and record the whole line.
- 2Video reportYou see cracks, offsets, roots or collapse, with the distance from the cleanout.
- 3Three options in writingLining, tunnel or trench, each with a flat price and a warranty.
- 4Permit and 811We pull the City of Houston plumbing permit and call 811 before any digging.
- 5Repair and testWe replace or line the pipe, test it and the city inspector checks the open pipe before backfill.
Sewer repair options and costs in Houston
A liner is cured inside the old pipe. No digging, but the pipe must still be round.
Dig a trench and replace with PVC. The cheapest when the line runs under open yard.
Run new PVC under the house without opening the whole floor.
Hydro-jet $500, new two-way cleanout $450, test and camera verify $350, backwater valve $850.
Typical Houston ranges for planning. Your written price comes after we see the job.
What changes the price
- Length of the line and how deep it runs
- Whether it runs under the slab, a driveway or open yard
- Pipe condition: round, cracked or collapsed
- Trees, fences or patios that must be removed and put back
- Permit, locates and inspection
Good to know in Houston
Houston’s expansive clay shifts and drops sewer lines, creating low spots where waste collects. Cast iron pipes in homes from the 1950s to 1970s rot from the inside. After heavy flooding like Harvey in 2017, many owners add a backwater valve so storms cannot push sewage back into the house.
Texas requires TSBPE-licensed plumbers for sewer work, and the City of Houston requires a permit and an inspection before backfill. Call 811 at least two business days before any digging.
Questions about sewer line repair
How much does sewer line repair cost in Houston?
Public cost guides list about $60 to $250 per foot for trenchless or trench work, and more under a slab. Your exact price depends on your line, shown in writing after the camera.
Can the line be fixed without digging?
Often yes, if the pipe is still round. Epoxy lining works in many cases. A collapsed pipe needs replacement.
Who owns the sewer line?
You usually own the line from the house to the city connection, or to the property line. The city handles the main in the street.
What is a backwater valve?
It is a one-way valve that keeps sewage from flowing back into the house during storms or main line backups.