Broward · Miami-Dade · Jacksonville
Sewer Line Repair
Sewer line repair fixes the buried pipe that carries wastewater from your house to the city main, and it is the right call when that line is cracked, bellied, or invaded by roots. We run a camera through the line first, show you what we found, and quote the repair before a shovel touches your yard. Many aging Jacksonville laterals need a targeted spot repair, not a full replacement, and we tell you plainly which one you need.
What the job includes
- In-pipe camera inspection with recorded video you keep
- Line locating to pinpoint the depth and position of the problem
- Targeted spot repairs on cracked or separated sections
- Root cutting where mature trees have grown into the joints
- Repair of bellied sections that hold standing water
- A written quote before work starts, repair vs. replacement compared
How you know it’s time
More than one drain in the house is slow at the same time
When the sink, tub, and toilet all drain sluggishly together, the blockage is usually past the house in the main lateral.
Gurgling from the toilet when the washing machine drains
Air trapped behind a partial blockage escapes through the nearest fixture. Gurgling is often the earliest hint the lateral is narrowing.
A soggy stripe or extra-green grass across the yard
A leaking lateral quietly waters the lawn above it. A lush or damp band running toward the street is worth a camera look.
Sewer odor near floor drains or in the yard
A cracked line lets sewer gas escape before it reaches the vent stack. Persistent odor outdoors usually points below ground.
When to make the call
Schedule a sewer inspection when slow drains keep returning after cabling, when you notice gurgling or odors, or before buying or remodeling an older home. Root intrusion and bellies worsen gradually, so a camera look at the first symptoms usually means a smaller, cheaper repair. Plenty of inspections end with us saying the line is fine for now.
Local knowledge
Sewer Line Repair is a different job in Broward than in Jacksonville. We know both.
Broward & Miami-Dade
The older cities — Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, North Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Hialeah, Coral Gables — still run cast iron and clay laterals from the 1950s and 60s, corroding from the inside and invaded by roots from the region's mature oaks and ficus. Low elevation along the coast means king tides and storms push on the line too. We camera before we quote, so you pay for the repair the pipe actually needs.
Jacksonville & the First Coast
Jacksonville's historic districts are full of mature live oaks, and their roots are the biggest enemy of the clay and cast iron laterals serving pre-1970s homes in Riverside, Avondale, San Marco, Springfield, and Ortega. Roots slip into gaps at joints and grow until they choke the line. In Mandarin's septic-to-sewer conversion areas the connecting lines have their own quirks, and sandy soil near the beaches can shift and stress buried pipe.
Questions
Sewer Line Repair. Ask us anything.
Last reviewed September 16, 2026
How much does sewer line repair cost in Florida?
The cost depends mostly on how deep the pipe sits, how long the damaged section is, and what is above it: a short spot repair under open lawn costs far less than a long run beneath a driveway. We start with a camera inspection, show you the footage, and give you a free estimate with a fixed written quote before work begins.
How do I know if my sewer line is broken or just clogged?
A camera inspection is the only way to know for certain, because a clog and a break look identical above ground. A clog that clears with cabling and stays clear was probably just a blockage. If backups return within weeks, or the cable snags at the same distance every time, that points to roots, a crack, or a belly at that spot.
Can tree roots really break a sewer pipe?
Yes, roots are the most common cause of sewer failure in Florida's older neighborhoods. They enter through small gaps at joints and thicken year after year until the joint cracks open and a root mass fills the line. Cutting roots restores flow for a while; a lasting fix repairs the joint they entered through.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewer line repair?
Usually not for wear, roots, or age, which insurers treat as maintenance, though some policies offer optional service-line riders that do cover the buried lateral. It is worth asking your agent. Whatever your coverage, we document the problem with camera footage and a written diagnosis, which is what a claim needs.
How long does a sewer line repair take?
Most spot repairs are finished in a day once the quote is approved, including excavation, repair, and backfill. Deeper lines or pipe under concrete can stretch to two or three days. Drains stay usable most of the job, and we tell you ahead of time about any window to hold off on laundry or showers.
Also in the family
Serving Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Jacksonville & the First Coast.