When a broken sewer line cannot wait
A cracked or collapsed lateral sends wastewater into your house or into the soil under it. Sewage backing up into a floor drain, a soggy patch in the yard or a sinkhole forming along the line are all reasons to call right away. So is a main line that clogs the same week you had it cleared.
Until help arrives, use as little water as possible. Do not run the washer, dishwasher or shower, and keep people and pets away from standing wastewater. Call any hour and we schedule the visit, with same-day appointments when available.
- Sewage or gray water coming up in the lowest drain in the house.
- A sinkhole, dip or soft spot in the yard along the sewer path.
- Sewer smell outdoors or in the basement with no clog found.
- A camera view from earlier work that showed a break, offset or collapse.
Spot repair, pipe bursting or lining
How the line gets fixed depends on how much of it is damaged and what is above it. A short break can be cut out and replaced. A long run with several problems is usually better handled by pulling in a new pipe or lining the old one.
National cost guides show wide spreads for a reason. Whole-job sewer repair spans roughly $150 to $3,800, partial repairs often cover only 1 to 15 feet, and full replacements average about 40 feet.
| Method | How it works | National cost range | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | Dig down, cut out the bad section, splice in new pipe | Part of the $150 to $3,800 overall range | One short break, easy to reach |
| Pipe bursting | Pull a new pipe through while breaking the old one outward | $60 to $200 per foot | A long run in poor shape with little digging wanted |
| CIPP lining | Cure a resin liner inside the old pipe | $90 to $250 per foot | Sound shape but cracks, roots at joints or leaks |
| Spin-casting | Spray a coating inside the pipe wall | $80 to $250 per foot | Smaller leaks and pitted older pipe |
Lining and bursting need a pipe that is still in line. A collapsed or badly sagging pipe usually has to be dug out and replaced, which the camera shows before anyone commits to a method.
A licensed plumber is on the 24/7 line now. Call before the damage spreads under the slab.
Call (855) 575-2890Cast iron pipe repair
Older homes often have cast iron drain and sewer pipe, especially under the slab and from the stack out to the yard. The pipe lasts a long time, but it rusts from the inside, so scale builds up, the walls thin and pieces can crack or break at joints.
Signs include slow drains throughout the house, rust-colored water in drain traps, a sewer smell and repeated clogs. A camera shows a rough, flaking, scaled wall in an old cast iron line. If the pipe is only scaled, cleaning may be enough, while thin or cracked sections are repaired or replaced.
Repair choices depend on where the pipe sits. Short failed sections can be cut out and replaced with PVC using no-hub couplings, which is the usual fix above ground and in an open trench. Under a slab, a lining can avoid breaking concrete, and if the whole run is shot, replacement or rerouting may cost less than patching again and again.
National guides price concrete removal at $3 to $8 per square foot, so a slab job adds up fast. We explain which option applies before any floor is opened.
What sewer line repair costs in Hazelwood
National cost guides put overall sewer line repair at $150 to $3,800, with pipe bursting at $60 to $200 per foot and CIPP lining at $90 to $250 per foot. Those are national ranges and not a local quote.
We give a clear price before work starts, after the camera shows what is wrong and how much pipe is involved.
Homeowner policies often exclude damage caused by slow wear and tree roots, though a sudden backup can fall under a separate endorsement. Check with your insurer.
Who owns the pipe, permits and digging in Hazelwood
MSD maintains the public sewers, and the private lateral from the house to the public main is generally the property owner's responsibility. That decides who pays for a break, so confirm with MSD at 314-768-6260 before work starts on the street side.
Plumbing work needs a licensed plumber, and permits run through St. Louis County by way of the city. Underground piping is the kind of work homeowner permits often leave out, so expect a licensed plumber to handle the permit and inspection. Ask for the permit number in writing.
Dial 811 before any digging so utility lines are marked. Gas, electric and water lines may share the yard with your sewer. The city lists a frost depth of 30 inches, and sewer trenches are dug well below that so the pipe holds its slope and stays out of frozen ground.
Cured-in-place pipe lining is covered by the ASTM F1216 standard for inverted liners and the ASTM F1743 standard for pulled-in-place liners. A lining quote should say which method, how thick the liner is and how it will be reconnected at the cleanout.
After the repair
A repaired lateral should be tested before the trench is closed. We run water through it and look again with the camera so the new run is proven to drain, not assumed.
If you are still sorting out the cause, sewer camera inspection shows the line from the inside. To clear a blocked pipe first, see hydro jetting. Homeowners north of Hazelwood can read our Florissant plumbing page for local service notes.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call, describe the backup and keep water use to a minimum. We offer same-day appointments when available.
A clog clears and stays clear. A broken line backs up again soon after cleaning and may show a wet spot or sinkhole in the yard. A camera inspection settles it.
Not always. A short break can be fixed with a small excavation, and pipe bursting or lining can replace or restore a longer run with far less digging. The camera view decides which methods can work.
Often a section can be replaced with PVC. If the whole run is thin, scaled or cracked, replacement usually makes more sense than repeated patches. We show you the camera footage and explain both options.
MSD maintains the public sewers, and the owner is generally responsible for the private lateral. Confirm your situation with MSD at 314-768-6260.
Plumbing permits and inspections for the city are handled through St. Louis County. We pull the permit when the repair needs one, and the work is done by licensed plumbers.
The city lists a frost depth of 30 inches. Pipe set above frozen ground can shift when the soil heaves, so trenches are dug deeper than that.
Septic tank pumping and drain field work are a separate trade from sewer line repair. Call and describe your setup, and we will tell you plainly whether the problem is one we handle or one for a septic contractor. To check which system serves your address, ask MSD at 314-768-6260.
Questions about your situation? A licensed plumber is on the line any hour.
Call (855) 575-2890