Is It Time To Replace the Sewer Pipe for Your Home?
When you live in an older home, you expect a little character — sealed letterbox openings, aging siding, maybe some questionable wallpaper from the ‘70s. But one thing we’ve been avoiding for years? A sewer pipe replacement. Yep. We’ve been limping along with snaking the drains and hydro jetting pipes for years now. This year, it finally got too bad to fix with spit and ducktape. Replacing the pipe wasn’t cheap, but it needed to be done (and if you’re here, you might be heading down the same road).
Let me walk you through my experience, what I learned, and how you can save yourself some stress (and maybe even some money).
Signs You Might Have a Clogged Sewer Pipe
My first clue that something was wrong? The slow drains and gurgling toilets. At first, I blamed backed up pipes from a typical clog. But then the tub front toilet started gurgling (not just having trouble flushing) and the old gutter drain in the back kept standing water in it most of the time.

Eventually, water started backing up into the corner of the yard (especially when it rained). And while we could clear the pipe for the year for a while, it eventually got too bad to keep clearing out. The signs it’s more than just a localized issue?
- Gurgling noises from drains or toilets
- Multiple slow drains at once
- Unpleasant odors from the washer drain or garage drain
- Water backing up in strange places in the yard
If you’re seeing any combo of these, start saving for a replacement ASAP. You might be able to get away with hydro jetting the pipe and using a root killer for a couple years, but these are signs that the end (of the pipe) are close at hand.
Drain Snaking vs. Hydro Jetting
The first plumbing company I called tried to fix the issue suggested a standard drain snake (much longer than the ones you can get from the drill because I definitely tried that several times myself). You know, the long metal coil that twists its way through your pipes to dislodge gunk? That poor technician came out and spent the ENTIRE day in the summer trying to snake the drain. I’ve honestly never seen anyone more dedicated. It earned them a Google review from me. But, it also didn’t work. We needed something stronger.
Rather than $180 for the snake, we were looking at closer to $500 for a hydro jet. Ugh.
Hydro jetting is basically pressure washing your pipes from the inside. A blast of high-pressure water scours away built-up grease, sludge, even small tree roots. It’s more thorough than snaking, and honestly, I wish we’d started there.
Here’s what I now understand:
- Snaking is a good first step for minor clogs, especially near the surface.
- Hydro jetting is better for deep, stubborn, or recurring clogs.
If your plumber only offers snaking, ask if hydro jetting is available. You want to go with someone who offers both (even if you start with snaking) because you may need to go with the hydro jet. Our plumber charged for the more expensive service, so we didn’t pay the extra snaking cost once the jet was used.
It’s not cheap, but it can help avoid unnecessary digging… at least for a while. And, while the hydro jet is $500, they gave us a brief estimate of around $6k for replacing the pipe.

4 Common Reasons House Pipes Clog
How can you tell the difference between a minor clog and a serious issue? Here’s what I learned about common culprits:
1. Grease Buildup
I’ll admit it—I’ve rinsed a greasy pan or two straight into the sink. Funny story, I actually had to call a plumber out to our first house because I thought you were supposed to put all the leftovers and kitchen waste into the drain. The plumber quickly set me straight and told me to scrape EVERYTHING possible into the trash first. Hmmm…good to know. He also gave me the sage advice that regularly pouring a stockpot worth of boiling water down the sink drain every few months was more effective than Drain-O.
But, it turns out, even with hot water, that grease can harden inside your pipes and builds up over time. It can especially happen away from the home drains where the hot water doesn’t really reach. My plumbers still recommend snaking the drains once a year from the outside to ensure this doesn’t build up and start to cause an issue.
Pro Tip: Never pour grease down your sink. Use a jar or can, let it harden, and toss it in the trash.
2. Tree Roots
Our home still had some of the original clay piping, which is like candy to tree roots. Those pipes seem moisture when it’s especially hot and dry (which is like a siren’s call to the trees). Any tiny crack or gap becomes an entry point, and the roots grow inside the pipe, slowly clogging it up and breaking it down.
That’s what happened to us—hydro jetting cleared the roots, but they came back fast. Eventually, they broke part of the pipe completely.
Pro Tip: Make it stop by adding RootX or Root Kill to the pipes every year if you know your pipes may be susceptible to root issues breaking in.
3. Impacted Debris
Between kids (who use way too much toilet paper) and all of our long hair clogging up the shower drain, it’s easy to have plenty of physical debris working against us. And everyone should know that those “flushable” wipes are not as flushable as the packaging claims.
Now? I regularly clean the hair catchers in the tubs and shower, and we’ve had “the talk” (many times) about how much paper is really necessary. I mean, really.
4. Broken or Collapsed Pipe
If you’ve got an older home and you’ve had ongoing issues with clogs or water backup, a broken or collapsed pipe could be to blame. We actually had this happen in our first home as well (except it was for the water supply pipe and not the drain). This can also happen when a section of pipe fully collapses from root intrusion.
Once the pipe breaks or collapses, it can’t be cleared and needs to be replaced.
How I Found a Reputable Pipe Replacement Company (And Why You Shouldn’t Go With The First Quote)
Once we knew we needed to replace the sewer line, I asked our typical plumbing company to give us a quote. The quote they came in at over $12,000. My jaw dropped because that was more than double what we were expecting. So I did what any budget-conscious mom would do — I kept calling.
Here’s what I looked for when evaluating companies:
- Licensed and insured: Non-negotiable. Ask for proof.
- Willing to do a camera inspection: Some companies will deduct the inspection fee from your final bill.
- Good reviews: Google, Yelp, and even neighborhood Facebook groups are gold mines of honest feedback.
- Experience: You want someone with a track record of these kinds of repairs.
- Clear communication: If they’re vague or pushy (or try to upcharge you), move on.
Ultimately, I chose a company that was friendly, transparent, and came in about $7k less than the first quote. They walked me through the process, clearly understood the process, and were very easy to work with.
Don’t feel bad about shopping around. One company might say you need a full replacement when a spot repair will do. Others may overcharge just because they can. Get at least two or three quotes. And, don’t just go with the cheapest one — keep experience and dependability in mind as well!
What the Pipe Replacement Process Was Like
In case you’re wondering, replacing a sewer pipe is wasn’t as invasive as I thought it might be. The crew dug up a trench from the edge of our sidewalk to the cleanout in our backyard. It took about four hours of digging, replacing the pipe, testing everything, and then backfilling the trench. Our front yard looked like a construction zone and wasn’t perfectly smothed out afterwards (because dirt is going to settle). But, totally worth it!
I thought we wouldn’t be able to use the water or flush the toilets, but the company we used was SO understanding. He told me with four kids, he didn’t mind if we used things. We still didn’t because I just couldn’t do that to him!


Don’t Take Good Plumbing for Granted!
Since then, our drains have been working perfectly (no backups, no gurgles, no smells). It’s one of those “invisible upgrades” that brings peace of mind. There’s nothing glamorous about plumbing, but when it works, your whole house runs better.
If you’re facing a potential sewer pipe issue, I hope my experience helps you feel a little more prepared. It’s overwhelming when you know a big repair is on the horizon, but with the right questions and a reputable team, you can get through it and come out on top.
And when two toilets can flush while you are running the washing machine? That’s a little victory worth celebrating.