Sewage in the house means the line has failed or is blocked
A backup that returns after a drain cleaning points to a damaged pipe. Common causes are roots that entered a joint, a pipe that has cracked or sagged, and old cast iron that has flaked apart. In each case the repair is a pipe problem, not a clog.
Stop using water in the house. Every flush and shower pushes more into the line. Keep children and pets out of any floor that has taken sewage, and wear gloves and boots if you must go in.
Backups after cleaning
A clear line that fills again within days usually has a break or a belly.
Wet or sunken ground
A soggy patch or a dip in the yard along the line can mean a break.
Sewer odor
Persistent smell near a drain or in the yard points to a leak.
Roots or gnats
Fine roots in the line and drain flies can both signal a cracked pipe.
How we handle a sewer line repair
Camera the line
We run a camera to locate the break, the roots or the sag, and show you the footage.
Choose the method
Spot repair, trenchless lining or replacement, depending on the length and the pipe.
Quote and permit
You hear a clear price before work starts, and we tell you if a permit applies.
Repair and test
We complete the work and test the line with water before closing up.
Sewer line trouble?
Call the 24/7 line about sewer line repair and we will book the next appointment that fits.
Repair methods compared
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | One short broken section | Needs a dig at the break |
| Trenchless lining | Long runs with cracks or roots, no collapse | Pipe needs to be clear enough to line |
| Pipe bursting | Failing line that needs a new pipe | Needs access pits at each end |
| Open trench replacement | Collapsed or badly sagged pipe | Most digging and restoration |
Your plumber recommends a method after the camera inspection.
What sewer line repair costs and what changes it
You hear a clear price before work starts. No two lines are alike, so we do not post a flat number.
The main cost drivers:
Homeowner's policies often exclude sewer line wear but may cover sudden backups with an endorsement. Check your policy, and we can provide a written description of the failure.
Massillon sewers: who owns what
Massillon runs a municipal sewer system with about 17,475 sanitary sewer connections, and city crews maintain the lines and manholes. The oldest parts of the system are more than a century old, and the city's first treatment plant dates to 1892. Your private lateral, the pipe from your house to the connection, is generally the owner's to repair.
In Perry Township the sewer service comes from the Stark County Metropolitan Sewer District, and much of that flow goes to Massillon's plant. About 1,475 septic systems also remain in the township, so confirm whether your home is on a sewer or septic before we plan a repair. Spring flooding in the Tuscarawas Valley has stressed older lines, and a line with a belly collects water in it long after the storm.
Sewer repairs follow the Ohio Plumbing Code, OAC Chapter 4101:3, which sets standards for pipe material, joints and slope in a building sewer.
Before we arrive
Sewer line repair questions
Yes. The line is open 24 hours a day, every day. Call, tell us where sewage is coming up, and we book the next appointment, with same-day appointments offered when available.
The city maintains public lines and manholes. A camera run shows whether the damage is on your side of the connection.
Sometimes. Trenchless lining and bursting reduce digging, but they depend on the pipe condition and access.
Yes. If your home is on septic, a backup may point to the tank or the drain field. We can tell you which after an inspection.
You hear a clear price before work starts. Length, depth, method, restoration and permits all affect it.