Sewer Line Repair in Atlanta, GA

Signs the problem is in the main line

A single slow drain is usually a clog close to that fixture. These signs point farther down the system:

• Several fixtures backing up or draining slowly at once
• A floor drain or lowest shower filling when the washer empties
• Gurgling in a toilet when a sink or tub drains
• A sewer smell outdoors, in the crawl space or in the basement
• A sunken or unusually wet spot in the yard along the pipe route
• Backups that return shortly after the line was cleaned

Diagnose, then dig

The usual order is to clear the line, then send a camera through it to see the defect. A sonde in the camera head can be located from the surface, so the plumber can mark the spot and estimate the depth. That small step is what keeps a repair hole from turning into a trench across the yard.

Matching the fix to the finding

Older Atlanta laterals

About 42.7% of Atlanta homes were built before 1980. Older intown neighborhoods are where clay and cast iron sewer pipe is most likely, and both tend to fail at joints and where tree roots press in.

City sewer and your side of it

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management collects and treats the city's wastewater. Repairs to the private line serving your building are hired by the owner. If the camera shows the defect near the street or at the connection to the public main, call ATL 311 at 404-546-0311 before planning digging there, and report any sewage spill from a public main the same way. Some addresses on the DeKalb side may be served by DeKalb County, so confirm your provider on your bill.

Permits and cost factors

Replacement plumbing in one- and two-family homes falls under technical permits from the City's Office of Buildings, filed online without plan review. The plumber typically handles it. Price depends on the depth and length of the bad section, the pipe material, what has to be dug through, whether a liner will work and permit fees.