Complete Sewer Line Services in Homer Glen, IL
Your sewer line is the backbone of your home's plumbing, yet it often goes unnoticed until disaster strikes. I've lost count of how many times I've been called out after a homeowner ignored slow drainage—only to find a total blockage or collapse that leads to sewage flooding their basement. Catching these problems early can save you serious money and hassle.
When you reach out to us at 708-726-3053, the first step is always a camera inspection. This lets us see inside your sewer pipes and diagnose the exact problem—no guessing games. Whether it’s roots plugging the line, a collapsed tile section, or grease buildup, we show you the problem live on the monitor. From there, we’ll recommend the best fix, whether that’s hydro-jetting, trenchless lining, or a full dig-and-replace job.
We handle everything: thorough drain cleaning, video inspections, pinpoint repairs, trenchless pipe rehabilitation, pipe bursting, and traditional sewer replacement. If you’re facing sewer backups right now, call us anytime—our emergency plumbing team is available 24/7. We provide firm pricing before any work starts so you know exactly what to expect.
Our Sewer Line Services
Sewer Line Video Inspection
Using a waterproof, high-res camera, we feed it through your sewer cleanout or pulled toilet to get a clear picture inside your pipes. This allows us to identify root invasions, fractures, misaligned joints, sags, grease clogs, and any blockages. This inspection is the foundation of honest, effective sewer repair—without it, you’re just guessing at the cause.
We save the footage and review it with you on site. That way, you see exactly what we see. If everything looks sound, we’ll let you know. For anyone buying an older home in Homer Glen, this inspection is a smart investment since sewer laterals aren’t covered in typical home inspections. We also include video inspections when dealing with stubborn clogs through our drain cleaning service.
Trenchless Sewer Repair with CIPP Lining
Cured-in-place pipe lining allows us to install a brand-new pipe inside your damaged one without digging trenches across your yard. An epoxy-coated flexible liner is inserted and expanded inside the existing pipe, then cured to form a strong, , corrosion- and root-resistant pipe. This method is ideal when pipes are cracked but still structurally sound.
For Homer Glen homes with clay or cast iron lines, CIPP lining avoids major landscaping disruption and often costs less and finishes faster than traditional replacement.
Pipe Bursting Sewer Replacement
If lining isn’t an option due to severe pipe damage, pipe bursting offers a trenchless full replacement method. We pull a bursting tool through the failing pipe, which fractures the old pipe outward into the soil while immediately pulling a new HDPE pipe into place. This avoids the need for digging a trench along the entire sewer route, limiting excavation to just entry and exit points.
Pipe bursting suits many soil types found here in Illinois and handles average residential sewer line lengths. However, lines with extreme sags or severe grade issues might still require traditional digging.
Conventional Sewer Replacement & Excavation
When trenchless repairs aren’t an option—due to a fully collapsed line, major pipe deformation, or other issues—we dig down to the pipe to remove and replace damaged sections. We install new schedule 40 PVC piping, ensuring proper slope and bedding for reliable flow. We take care to restore your yard to the best possible condition afterward and handle any necessary permits.
Before recommending excavation, we evaluate whether trenchless methods might work. Excavation is sometimes necessary but we always explain why. If we're onsite for sewer excavation, it’s also a convenient time to inspect your water line since these utilities typically run nearby underground.
Root Removal & Root Prevention
Tree roots are a major headache for sewer lines here in Illinois. Roots look for any opening—whether joints in old clay tile, cracks in cast iron, or hairline fractures—and grow into tangled masses that clog your drains. We mechanically cut out roots and flush pipes with high-pressure hydro jetting. But cutting roots alone only solves the symptom; we’ll advise if your pipe needs lining or replacement to keep roots out for good. If roots have damaged your interior drain piping, we cover that too as part of the repair.
Understanding Sewer Lines in Homer Glen, IL
Homer Glen and the surrounding suburbs have a mix of sewer pipe types from different eras reflecting local building trends. Older homes from the '50s to early '70s usually have clay tile (terracotta) laterals, made from short pipe sections joined with bell-and-spigot fittings—these joints are prime spots for root intrusion. Plus, Illinois’s clay-rich soil shifts with freeze-thaw cycles, causing joints to loosen over time. If your home dates before 1975, there's a good chance your sewer lateral has roots or joint issues beneath the surface.
Homes from the 1970s and 80s often feature cast iron pipes inside, combined with clay tile or early PVC laterals underground. Cast iron is sturdy but corrodes internally, building up scale that restricts flow—if you have a split-level or ranch from the '80s with gradually slowing drains, corrosion could be the culprit.
Common Illinois trees like willow, oak, silver maple, and cottonwood aggressively seek moisture. If any are growing within 30 feet of your lateral, especially along the pipe path, getting a camera inspection before a backup happens is a smart move.
Signs Your Sewer Line May be Failing
- Several drains slow down or back up simultaneously
- Gurgling noises coming from toilets during water use elsewhere
- Foul sewage smell inside the basement or around your yard
- Bright green, healthy grass patches appearing unexpectedly
- Wet, sunken spots along where your sewer line runs in the yard
- Water backing up through basement floor drains
- Increased rodent activity—rats often enter homes through damaged pipes
- Frequent backups despite professional drain cleaning
Typical Sewer Pipe Materials by Construction Date
Pre-1970 Homer Glen homes: Clay tile / terracotta pipes—prone to root intrusion at joints, often 60–70+ years old
1950s–1970s: Orangeburg pipes (compressed tar paper)—these collapse over time and require urgent replacement if present
1970s–1980s: Cast iron inside with clay or early PVC laterals—cast iron may corrode internally
Post-1985: Schedule 40 PVC—smooth interior surface, corrosion resistant, and longest lasting option
Frequently Asked Questions About Sewer Lines
If you notice several drains backing up or slowing down at once, toilets gurgling when you use water elsewhere, unpleasant sewage odors in your basement or yard, unusually vibrant grass patches, soggy spots in the lawn, or repeated backups even after drain cleaning, those are clear warning signs. Give us a call and we’ll perform a camera inspection before things get worse.
Trenchless sewer repair includes methods like cured-in-place pipe lining and pipe bursting that fix or replace pipes through small access points instead of digging open trenches. These techniques work when the existing pipe hasn’t totally collapsed and the soil conditions are stable. When applicable, trenchless repair is faster, less invasive, and often more cost-effective. We’ll clearly explain if your sewer line qualifies for this approach.
There’s a lot of variables in sewer repair costs, so it’s tough to give a ballpark without seeing your pipes. Root removal jobs might be a few hundred dollars. Trenchless pipe lining can range from $3,000 to $8,000. Full excavations and replacements in difficult soil can run over $10,000. We inspect first and provide an exact price before starting work.
Clay tile pipes usually last 50 to 60 years, many in Homer Glen are reaching or past that age. Cast iron pipes range from 50 to 75 years. PVC pipes can last well over 100 years. Orangeburg pipe—used mid-century—lasts about 30 to 50 years and is prone to failure sooner. Regular video inspections help catch damage early so you can plan repairs or replacement.
Definitely. Typical home inspections don’t include sewer lateral checks. Those pipes can have hidden problems like roots, collapse, or sags that won’t show up until you move in and face backups. A pre-purchase sewer camera inspection is a modest investment compared to unexpected repairs after closing.