If sewage is coming up in the house and cleaning did not hold, stop using water, keep people away from the wet area, and call our 24/7 line at (855) 575-2890. A repeat backup after a good cleaning often means the pipe is damaged, and the fix is a repair, not another cable run.
Sewer line repair is the fixing or replacing of the pipe that carries wastewater from the house to the City's sewer main. That can mean lining the old pipe from inside, replacing a short section, or replacing the run.
We take sewer repair calls at night and on weekends, and a same-day camera visit is often possible. Digging is planned, not rushed, so the first job after hours is usually to stop the backup and learn what the pipe looks like. Permit-required work follows the Ohio Plumbing Code, which was updated effective March 1, 2024.
Sewer backup: how a repair call begins
Stop water use, and if sewage is on the floor, avoid contact and keep children and pets away. We clear the blockage if the line will take a cable, so the house is usable, and then send a camera down the pipe.
The camera tells us what the cable could not. A cable only says the pipe is blocked. A camera shows a crack, a joint pulled apart, a sag that holds water, or roots forcing their way in. If the picture shows damage, we go over what the camera shows and discuss lining and digging before any work starts.
A planned sewer inspection is the same camera work without the emergency, and it is the right step before buying a house with an older line.
Signs the pipe itself is failing
Backups that return after cleaning
A line that clogs again within weeks has a rough spot, a low spot or a break that catches waste.
Gurgling and slow drains in the whole house
When every fixture slows together, the main run is restricted somewhere along its length.
Wet, soft or sunken ground over the line
Water leaking from a cracked pipe can soften soil and let the ground settle above it.
Sewer odor in the yard or basement
A smell with no fixture problem can mean a broken joint letting gas out.
Roots at every cleaning
Roots enter through cracks and joints. Cutting them without repairing the opening only buys time.
Who owns what: the owner's line and the City's main
In Sidney the property owner is responsible for the sewer from the building to the City's main and tap. The City maintains the main. Before you pay for a repair, find out where your pipe ends and the City's begins.
The City of Sidney runs an inflow and infiltration program, adopted in its ordinances in 2012. In areas that receive a notice, owners must have the building drain and building sewer inspected by video and send the report to the City. If you got a notice, follow it. Repairs may be due later if the video shows clean water entering the sewer.
For sewers installed before 2013, the City offers an optional agreement, a Lateral Transfer Agreement. Ask the Underground Utilities office at 937-498-8157 about terms and whether your address qualifies. We do not quote its terms.
Stop water use and call. A plumber is on the line any hour.
Lining the pipe or digging it up
Both repairs end with a sound pipe. They differ in how much of your yard and driveway is disturbed.
Excavation
- A trench is dug to the pipe and the bad section is cut out and replaced.
- Best for collapsed pipe, severe sags, or a break at a connection.
- Disturbs the yard, and sometimes a driveway or walkway.
- Call 811 before digging. Ohio law requires notice, with two working days.
Pipe lining (CIPP)
- A resin-soaked liner is pulled into the old pipe and cured to a new inner wall.
- Best for cracks, leaking joints and root entry where the pipe still holds its shape.
- Needs a cleaned, open line, and access at both ends.
- Cannot fix a collapsed or badly offset section, which needs digging.
Pipe lining, explained plainly
CIPP stands for cured-in-place pipe. The pipe is cleaned, a flexible liner coated with resin is inserted, inflated against the wall, and hardened with heat or light. The result is a pipe inside the old pipe, with no joints for roots to enter.
Lining suits a pipe that is cracked or leaking but still straight and round. It does not suit pipe that has collapsed, has a deep belly, or has a severe offset, because the liner follows whatever shape the pipe has. We confirm with a camera before recommending it, and if lining will not work, we say so and explain the digging option.
Cast iron sewer pipe in older homes
Cast iron corrodes from the inside. Rust scale builds up on the pipe wall, catches paper and grease, and eventually thins the pipe until it cracks or flakes through. The outside can look sound while the inside is nearly closed.
Homes with older plumbing may have cast iron in the building drain under the slab or in the basement. A camera reveals the scale. Light scale can sometimes be cleaned and monitored, and heavy scale or thin walls point to replacement of that section. Cleaning with hydro jetting is only an option if the camera shows the pipe is sound enough.
What determines sewer repair cost
A repair price depends on what the camera shows, so we do not quote by phone. Once we see the pipe, you get a clear price and the options before work starts.
Insurers often treat a sudden sewage backup differently from slow wear or root damage,. Take photos and ask your insurer what applies.
After the repair
We run a camera again after lining or replacement to confirm the pipe is clear and sloped. Keep the video if you plan to sell, since it shows the line was repaired.
If a repair job follows a blockage, see sewer line cleaning for what we do before the camera. We repair lines in Sidney and the surrounding area, including Fort Loramie and Jackson Center.
Common questions
Do you handle sewer line repair emergencies at night or on weekends in Sidney?
Yes. Our line is open 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. After hours we usually clear the backup and run a camera so you know what the pipe needs, and larger repairs are scheduled once the options are clear.
How do I know if my sewer line needs repair instead of cleaning?
A backup that returns within weeks, roots at every cleaning, or a camera view of cracks, offsets or a sag all point to repair. A one-time blockage that clears and stays clear is usually just a cleaning.
Is pipe lining a permanent fix?
A properly installed liner makes a new inner pipe that can last for years, but it depends on the condition of the old pipe and the installation. We explain what applies to yours before you decide.
What is the City's optional Lateral Transfer Agreement?
For sewers installed before 2013, the City offers an optional agreement. Ask the Underground Utilities office at 937-498-8157 for the terms and whether your address qualifies. We do not quote its terms.
Do I need to call 811 before a sewer repair?
If the work involves digging, yes. Ohio811 requires notice, with two working days, and you can reach it by dialing 811 or 800-362-2764.
Will I have to dig up my whole yard?
Not always. Lining works through access points and needs little digging. Collapsed or badly offset pipe needs an excavation, which we keep to the section that failed.