Water and drain service
Sewer line replacement and trenchless sewer repair in NYC
When a sewer line is cracked, collapsed, full of roots or sagging, clearing it only buys time. We camera the line, show you the problem, and replace or reline it with the least digging possible, in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan.
How we repair a failed sewer line
The camera decides the method. We explain the options and the trade-offs before you choose.
Camera inspection and locating
We find the exact spot and depth of the break, root intrusion or belly, and record the footage for you.
Spot repair
A single cracked section or offset joint excavated and replaced, leaving the rest of the line alone.
Trenchless pipe lining
A resin-saturated liner cured inside the existing pipe, creating a new jointless pipe without digging up the yard or sidewalk. Best for cracks, roots and leaking joints in a line that still holds its shape.
Trenchless pipe bursting
A new pipe pulled through while the old one is fractured outward. Best for collapsed or badly deformed lines, with access pits at each end only.
Full excavation and replacement
When the line is collapsed, bellied, or the wrong material. Cast iron or PVC per NYC code, with permits and restoration.
Permits and restoration
DEP sewer connection permits, DOT permits for sidewalk and street work, and the paving, concrete and landscaping afterward.
Repair, reline or replace: how we decide
A sewer line that clogs once a year with roots can often be jetted and relined, sealing the joints the roots came through. A line with a belly, a sag that holds water and debris, cannot be lined; the sag is still there under the liner. A collapsed line needs bursting or excavation. The camera tells us which, and we show you the footage so you are deciding from the same picture we are.
In New York City, the house sewer runs from the building to the city main under the street, and the owner is responsible for the whole length, including the part under the sidewalk and street. Work in that zone needs DEP and DOT permits and a licensed master plumber. We hold the licenses and pull the permits.
If the line is backing up right now, see emergency sewer backup service; we clear it first and plan the repair second.
Signs the line needs more than clearing
- Backs up more than once a year
- Roots on the cable every time
- Camera shows cracks, offsets or standing water
- Sinkhole or soft spot in the yard or sidewalk
- Sewer smell outside the house
- Multiple drains slow at once
Sewer line replacement and trenchless repair by borough
Same-day and scheduled service in every neighborhood we serve.
Brooklyn
ZIP codes 11201–11256
- Williamsburg
- Greenpoint
- DUMBO
- Brooklyn Heights
- Cobble Hill
- Carroll Gardens
- Red Hook
- Park Slope
Queens
ZIP codes 11004–11697
- Astoria
- Long Island City
- Sunnyside
- Woodside
- Jackson Heights
- Elmhurst
- Corona
- Flushing
Staten Island
ZIP codes 10301–10314
- St. George
- Tompkinsville
- Stapleton
- New Brighton
- West Brighton
- Port Richmond
- Westerleigh
- Clifton
Manhattan
ZIP codes 10001–10282
- Financial District
- Battery Park City
- Tribeca
- SoHo
- Chinatown
- Lower East Side
- East Village
- Greenwich Village
Questions
What is trenchless sewer repair?
Repairing or replacing a sewer line without digging a trench along its length. Pipe lining cures a new pipe inside the old one; pipe bursting pulls a new pipe through while breaking the old one. Both need only small access points.
Is trenchless cheaper than digging?
Often, once sidewalk and street restoration are counted, and it is faster and far less disruptive. But not every line qualifies: a bellied or collapsed line usually needs excavation or bursting. The camera inspection decides.
Who is responsible for the sewer line under the sidewalk in NYC?
The property owner, all the way to the connection at the city main. Work in the sidewalk and street requires DEP and DOT permits and a licensed master plumber.
How long does a sewer line replacement take?
Lining is usually one day. Bursting one to two days. Full excavation two to five days depending on depth, length and restoration.
Do you handle the permits?
Yes. DEP, DOT and DOB filings, inspections, and the sidewalk and street restoration afterward.
Related: Sewer backup · Drain cleaning · Emergency plumber