We handle the whole job: camera diagnosis, the township permits, the excavation in the yard, sidewalk or street, the new PVC line, the inspection, the backfill and the restoration. You deal with one licensed contractor from the first backup to the final sign-off.
Signs your sewer line is failing
- Sewage backing up into a basement floor drain, tub or first-floor toilet
- Several drains slow at once, or the whole house backs up when the washer discharges
- Repeated main-line clogs that come back within months of being cleared
- A sunken or soggy strip of lawn between the house and the street
- Sewer smell in the basement or the yard
- Unusually green grass or a patch that stays wet in dry weather
- A camera inspection that shows roots, standing water, cracks or a broken section
- Foundation cracks or a settling walkway above the lateral's path
Sewer services we provide
Sewer camera diagnosis and locating
Before anyone digs, we run a camera through the lateral, find the failure and mark its exact location and depth from the surface. You see the footage and we explain what it shows.
Full sewer lateral replacement
Dig-and-replace of the lateral from the house foundation to the property line or the main, in Schedule 40 PVC with proper bedding and pitch. This is the permanent fix for clay lines that have failed in several places.
Spot repair
When the camera shows one broken joint or a single crushed section in an otherwise sound line, we excavate just that spot, replace it and tie into the existing pipe with the proper transition couplings.
Trenchless lining, where appropriate
A cured-in-place liner can rehabilitate a cracked or root-invaded line with minimal digging when the pipe still has its shape and pitch. It is not the right choice for collapsed pipe, bellies or badly offset joints. We tell you honestly which option fits your line.
Street and sidewalk excavation, permits and inspections
Many laterals fail at the connection to the main under the street. We pull the road-opening and plumbing permits, coordinate mark-outs, handle the excavation and restoration, and schedule the township inspection before backfill.
Cleanout installation
Older homes often have no exterior cleanout, which turns every backup into a basement job. We install a proper two-way cleanout so the line can be cabled, jetted and inspected from outside.
Backup prevention
Backwater valves, cleanouts and root management for homes on streets with mature trees or a history of municipal main surcharging.
Sewer backup emergencies
Sewage in the basement is handled 24/7. We open the line to stop the backup, then diagnose the cause and give you a firm price for the permanent repair.
How a sewer repair works
- 1
Camera inspection and honest diagnosis
We run the camera, locate the problem and show you the footage. You learn whether the line needs cleaning, a spot repair, a liner or full replacement.
- 2
Written, by-the-job price
One number that covers the permits, excavation, pipe, inspection, backfill and restoration. No hourly rate and no add-ons for hitting rock or roots.
- 3
Permits, mark-outs and scheduling
We file with the township, call in the utility mark-out, and arrange any road-opening permit or police detail the town requires. We tell you how long the water and sewer will be out of service, which is usually a matter of hours, not days.
- 4
Excavation, new pipe, inspection, restoration
We dig, remove the failed pipe, lay the new PVC at proper pitch on a stone bed, have the town inspect it, then backfill, compact and restore the surface.
What a sewer replacement looks like
Homeowners are often surprised by how organized a sewer replacement is once it starts. The day before, the utility mark-out crews paint the gas, water and electric lines so we know exactly where to dig. On the morning of the job we set up plywood and plates to protect the lawn and driveway, then open a trench along the path of the old lateral, usually four to eight feet deep in this part of New Jersey.
The old clay or cast iron comes out in pieces. You will probably see roots packed inside it, which explains a lot about the last few years of backups. We lay a bed of crushed stone, set the new PVC at a steady downhill pitch toward the main, glue every joint, and install a cleanout at the house so the line can be serviced from outside in the future. Where the new pipe meets the old, at the foundation or the main, we use the proper shielded couplings.
The township inspector looks at the pipe in the open trench before we cover it. Then we backfill in lifts, compact the soil, and put back the lawn, walkway, driveway or street surface. Inside the house, you are back to normal use the same day the connection is made.
Why Master’s Plumbing
Why North Jersey homeowners trust us with sewer work
- NJ Master Plumber license #36BI01244200, insured and bonded for excavation work
- Camera diagnosis before any digging, so you only pay for the repair you need
- Permits, inspections, street openings and restoration handled for you
- Honest guidance on spot repair versus lining versus full replacement
- One by-the-job price with no surprises when the ground is opened
- 24/7 response when sewage is coming into the house
Sewer Repair across North Jersey
Master’s Plumbing is based in Roselle and provides sewer line repair & replacement throughout Union County, Essex County, Bergen County, Passaic County, Hudson County, Morris County. Not sure if we cover your town? Call and ask, or check the full service area.
