Service · Chicago area
Sewer line repair and replacement
The building sewer carries everything from your home to the public sewer. When it cracks, sags or fills with roots, every drain in the building is affected.
Calls are answered by a referral service that connects you with a local plumbing provider. How this works
Signs of a damaged building sewer
- Backups at the lowest drain in dry weather, again and again.
- Roots on the cleaning cable.
- Gurgling throughout the building when fixtures drain.
- Sewer odor in the basement or yard; soggy or sunken spots over the line.
Repair options
| Approach | What it involves | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | Excavate and replace a damaged section | Useful when damage is localized |
| Full replacement | Replace the building sewer from the house to the connection | Often where the line is old throughout |
| Trenchless methods | Lining or bursting with limited digging | Only where the provider offers it and local rules allow it |
| Combined with backflow protection | Add a backwater valve during the work | Common in combined-sewer areas |
A camera inspection usually comes first. Sewer camera inspection
Who is responsible for which part
Responsibility for the building sewer between the house and the public sewer varies by municipality — especially for the portion under the parkway or street. Ask your municipality before work begins. Some suburbs offer help with repairs in the right-of-way: for example, Des Plaines and Evanston have published sewer repair assistance programs.
Chicago rules
A City of Chicago sewer permit is required to connect to, construct, alter or repair sewers, and only licensed drainlayers can obtain one. Licensed plumbing contractors can get a courtesy drainlayer license (since January 1, 2022). Work in the public way may also need CDOT or MWRD permits.
Source: City of Chicago DOB — Sewer Permits; City of Chicago DOB — Drainlayer License
What affects the cost
We do not publish prices. Providers typically consider: length and depth of the line, what is above it (driveways, trees, finished basement floors), soil and access, whether the work reaches the public way, restoration, and permits. Ask how the price is calculated before work starts.
Licensing and permits
In Chicago, most plumbing work must be done by a licensed and bonded plumbing contractor holding a City of Chicago license in addition to State licensing. In the suburbs, plumbers are licensed by the State and each municipality runs its own permits. Chicago permits · Illinois licensing
Frequently asked questions
How long do building sewers last?
It depends on material, soil, trees and installation quality, so we do not give a number. Condition, seen on camera, matters more than age.
Will I need to dig up the parkway?
If the damage is under the parkway or the connection, often yes, with permits and restoration. Trenchless methods can reduce digging where they are suitable and offered.
Should I add a backwater valve while the line is open?
In combined-sewer areas many owners consider it, because the line is already exposed. It needs proper design and a permit.
Related
- Sewer camera inspectionDiagnose first
- Backwater valvesBackup protection
- Chicago permitsDrainlayers and sewer permits
- Sewer smell in the basementRelated symptom
Sources
- City of Chicago DOB — Sewer Permits Official / primary
- City of Chicago DOB — Drainlayer License Official / primary
- City of Des Plaines — Sanitary sewer rebate form (PDF) Official / primary
- City of Evanston — Sewer Repair Financial Assistance Program Official / primary
Information can change; official sources control.