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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
GUIDE TO SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
  Diagnosing a Blocked Drain
  When to Call a Plumber
  How to Locate the Main Building Drain
  How to Use a Power Snake on Building Drains
  How to Find Distance to Drain Blockage
  Determining Need for Replacement
  Replacing the Sewer Line, Step by Step
  Making Other Septic Repairs
  Installing the new sewer line
  Bedding the sewer line in Sand
  Final Backfill of the Sewer Line Trench
  Documenting Buried Components
  Final seeding and soil restoration
  Sewer or Septic Line Installation at Steep Sites
HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE
TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE
TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION
TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION
SEPTIC TREATMENTS
SEPTIC CONSULTANTS
SEPTIC AUTHORITIES
BOOKS REFS CODES
SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS
SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES

SEPTIC VIDEOS
More Information

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Sewer Line Replacement Procedure - when, how, and why to replace a buried drain line between a house and septic tank
SepticAPedia ^©

Guide to how to diagnose a blocked main building drain

How to determine that a sewer line needs replacement

Step by step main drain line replacement, house to septic tank (or sewer)

How to document the location of buried plumbing & septic components

Final site restoration guide after sewer or septic pipe replacement

Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm.

This article describes when, where, how, and why a sewer pipe or "drain line" is replaced. The line which was replaced in this photo-illustrated case runs from the building exterior to a septic tank located downhill from the home. We present an actual case study, illustrated with photos of each step in the diagnosis and replacement of a blocked sewer line. The waste line in this case was found to be blocked, damaged, old, and needing replacement in the course of an attempt to clear a blocked drain between the house and septic tank. Technical reviewers are welcome and are listed at "References." This is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems. Also see Backups and Clogged Drains diagnosing septic backups and septic system failures versus clogged drains.

Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

Diagnosing the Cause of a Blocked Building Drain or Sewer Line

Photograph of an overlowing toilet caused by a blocked building drain

The first signs of a drain problem

How to diagnose slow drains & toilet backups: The first signs of a drain problem was the report by our tenant that the toilet was slow to flush in the home.

Is the slow drainproblem at a fixture, the whole building, or main drain? Following our own advice on diagnosing clogged drains and how to distinguish a clogged drain from a failed septic system (online at Diagnosing Clogged Drains & Septic System Backups we asked if all the drains in the home were slow or just the toilet. The answer: all of the drains were slow.

The toilet would show the most dramatic blockage because it sends a large sudden discharge volume of water and waste into the sewer line. We flushed the toilet and watched the water rise right up to the bowl brim. (If the toilet had begun to overflow we'd have reached inside the tank to manually close the tank flapper valve to stop the flush.)

Though not optimistic that it would make any difference, we tried plunging the toilet aggressively with a manual toilet plunger. It didn't help. Plunging the toilet made no difference. We already suspected a main drain or system problem (all drains were slow). So we needed a plumber to help with further diagnosis of the drain blockage. [Continue this article using the links shown below.]

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

GUIDE TO SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
  Diagnosing a Blocked Drain
  When to Call a Plumber
  Determining Need for Replacement
  Replacing the Sewer Line, Step by Step
  Making Other Septic Repairs
  Installing the new sewer line
  Bedding the sewer line in Sand
  Final Backfill of the Sewer Line Trench
  Documenting Buried Components
  Final seeding and soil restoration

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material.

Daniel Friedman - principal author
Thanks to Thomas Gleason, excavators, Poughkeepsie, NY 845-454-3730, for the excavating work at the project photo documented here in September 2006
Thanks to Cleveland Plumbing, the prime plumbing contractor, Staatsburgh, NY 845-485-7700 for the plumbing work and drain clog diagnosis work documented here in September 2006
Technical reviewers are invited to comment or ask questions - contact us

More Information on Septic System Diagnosis, Maintenance, & Repair

Backups and Clogged Drains diagnosing septic backups and septic system failures versus clogged drains - key step in septic repair
HOW TO FIND A SEPTIC TANK
DRAINFIELD LOCATION GUIDE
SEPTIC VIDEOS assist in locating septic system or sewer line components
The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.
Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
What is a Septic System An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment

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CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigation Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting