Sewer Line Repair in Greensboro, NC

Signs the sewer line is damaged

• The lowest drains in the house back up first, often the basement floor drain or a ground-floor tub
• Gurgling toilets and slow drains all over the house at once
• A sewage smell in the yard or crawl space
• A soft, wet or unusually green strip of lawn over the line's path
• Clogs that come back soon after the line is cleared

Whose pipe is it?

In Greensboro, the answer decides who pays. The City handles the public sewer main. Under its Sanitary Sewer Backup Policy, City crews will also clean or repair the accessible part of a property's service line that lies within the public right-of-way or easement, at no cost to the homeowner, and will service a courtesy cleanout at the edge of the right-of-way if one exists. The rest of the service line, from there to the house, is the owner's.

So the first call for a backup is City of Greensboro Water Resources at 336-373-2033, which takes sewer calls 24 hours a day. If the crew finds the main clear and no water standing at the cleanout, the problem is on your side.

How a plumber finds and fixes the problem

Clear and inspect. The line is cleared, then a camera is run through it to locate the damage and measure how far it is from the cleanout and how deep.

Spot repair. A single cracked or separated section can often be dug up and replaced on its own.

Trenchless lining. In some cases a liner can be installed inside the existing pipe to seal cracks and joints without digging a trench across the yard.

If the camera shows damage along much of the line, replacement may make more sense than a string of repairs.

Why it comes up in older neighborhoods

About 43% of Greensboro homes were built before 1980. Sewer lines that old have had decades for roots from mature trees to find the joints and for soil movement to shift sections out of line.

Protecting the house next time

The City's backup policy expects a property owner whose claim is paid to install and maintain a backwater valve in the service line. Even without a claim, a backwater valve is worth asking about if your lowest drains sit below street level.

What affects the cost

Depth and length of the damaged section, the pipe material, what's on top of it (lawn, driveway, landscaping), and whether trenchless repair is an option all shape the price.