Frequently Asked Questions

The City of St. Joseph's homeowner guide says the private lateral, from your house to the city's main and including the tap connection at the main, is the property owner's responsibility. The city maintains the public main. If several neighbors back up at once, call the city's Sewer Backup line at 816-236-1485, since the main may be the cause.

HomeAdvisor lists typical sewer main replacement at about $1,388 to $5,323, with repairs to a broken or cracked pipe around $600 to $1,050 and replacement at $60 to $250 per foot. Depth, length, roots, and whether a driveway or street must be opened move the price. We give a written quote after a camera inspection.

Often not. The city's guide notes that most homeowner policies may not cover lateral repairs, and suggests asking your agent about sewer line insurance or a sewer and drain endorsement. Check your own policy before a problem happens.

St. Joseph's building department says plumbing work must be done by city-licensed master plumbers, and work in the public right-of-way needs its own permit. A backwater valve also requires a city permit. Confirm current requirements with Building Development Services at 816-271-5341.

Orangeburg was used for house connections from roughly the 1940s into the 1970s, so homes from that period are candidates. On camera it looks black and fibrous, and older runs often show flattening or an out-of-round shape. A camera inspection is the reliable way to tell.

Cutting or jetting removes the roots but not the opening they came through, so they usually grow back. A lasting fix seals the joint or crack, either with a liner or by replacing the section. The city's guide also recommends keeping trees and shrubs away from the lateral.

Heavy rain can overload the sewer system, especially where downspouts, sump pumps or area drains are tied into the lateral or the street has a combined sewer. A partially blocked lateral makes it worse. A camera inspection shows the lateral's condition, and a permitted backwater valve can keep sewage from flowing back into the house.

Many residential replacements take one to three days once permits are in hand, depending on length, depth and whether the street portion is involved. We give you a schedule with the quote.

This Old House puts PVC sewer pipe at 100 years or more, and cast iron at 75 to 100 years. Proper bedding and slope matter as much as the material.

If the camera shows damage in one place and sound pipe elsewhere, repair it. If roots, cracks, offsets or flattening repeat along the run, replacement usually costs less than a series of repairs.

Usually yes, though water use is limited while the line is disconnected, typically for part of a day or more. We tell you when the house will be off the sewer so you can plan around it.

Per foot, trenchless and open-trench ranges overlap. Trenchless often costs less overall when a driveway, mature trees, steps or landscaping sit over the line, because there is much less to restore.

Usually, if the clay still holds its shape and slope. Lining seals the joints roots enter through. Badly offset or collapsed sections may need a spot repair first.

Only if it still holds most of its round shape. Orangeburg tends to flatten with age, and a flattened pipe usually needs bursting or replacement instead.

A cured liner has no joints for roots to enter along its length. Roots can still enter at an unlined section or at the transition, which is why those points are planned carefully.

HomeAdvisor lists video sewer inspection at about $100 to $500 in its sewer repair guide, and a wider $271 to $1,725 range in its inspection guide. Line length, access and whether the line must be cleared first affect the price.

For an older home, it is worth considering. The lateral becomes your responsibility at closing, and replacement can run into the thousands. An inspection tells you what pipe you are inheriting.

The City of St. Joseph's homeowner guide recommends inspection and cleaning of the private lateral every two to five years. Lines with known roots may need it more often.

Yes. The camera head carries a transmitter, and a locator above ground follows it, so we can mark the route and depth on the surface.

HomeAdvisor lists broken or cracked sewer pipe repair at about $600 to $1,050. Depth, what is on top and whether the spot is in the right-of-way can push it higher.

Not if the rest of the line is sound. If the camera shows damage elsewhere, a spot repair buys time, and we will tell you that up front.

Yes. A sectional liner may avoid cutting the driveway at all. If digging is needed, the concrete is cut, the pipe repaired and the slab patched, with that cost listed on the quote.

Clay sections are joined with mortar-type joints that loosen over time. Roots, settling soil or a heavy load above one joint can open or crack it while the neighboring sections stay intact.

Angi lists hydro jetting at about $350 to $600 for a typical professional visit, with an average around $475. Homeyou lists main sewer line jetting at roughly $371 to $998. Line length, access and roots affect the price.

Jetting cleans the full pipe wall and flushes debris out; a snake opens a path and cuts roots. For heavy roots, both are often used together.

It can damage weakened Orangeburg or already broken pipe. Sound clay and PVC handle it well. A camera inspection first tells us which we are dealing with.

The City of St. Joseph's guide suggests inspection and cleaning every two to five years. If yours needs it every few months, there is likely a defect worth repairing.

The City of St. Joseph's homeowner guide says the private lateral, including the tap connection at the main, is the property owner's responsibility. If your lateral fails under the street, that portion is generally the owner's cost. The city main itself is the city's.

Yes, before any excavation. The city's permit form for street work requires Missouri One-Call notice at least two working days ahead. We handle that call for jobs we dig.

It varies with the house, the lot slope and where the main sits. Our camera locator reads depth at each point along the line, so we know before digging.

Not if the trench is backfilled in layers and compacted. Some settling of topsoil can happen, and we cover follow-up topsoil in the quote where it applies.